Behavioral Health Today

How to Prepare for the ASWB Social Work Licensing Exam with Natalie Liberman, LCSW LMFT – Episode 186

Oftentimes we’ll come at the licensing exam like we did other exams during our academic career, but the ASWB Social Work Licensing Exam is a whole other beast. We encourage taking the exam content and applying a learning process, that’s based on research, that’s going to enhance the encoding, retention, and recall of this material. If we can approach the Social Work Licensing Exam with a plan, and enhance what we can do, but let’s do it strategically. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Natalie Liberman, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Licensed Clinical Social Worker. Natalie has been a faculty at Gerry Grossman Seminars (since 2012), and an Adjunct Faculty at Pepperdine University, Graduate School of Education and Psychology (since 2015). In her private practice, Natalie works with an array of clients dealing with substance abuse, trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship issues, career and life transitions, sexual problems, social anxiety disorders, communication issues, self-esteem, and general quality of life issues. Today, we'll be focusing on Natalie's expertise as an exam prep expert and coach and talking about early career experiences and preparing for the social work licensing exam. Together Graham and Natalie discuss the emotions and mindset to starting your exam process, understanding your learning preferences so you can study smarter and ways to do this strategically, two most important skills to improve recall and retention, study options and support available to assist you through your exam journey, and finally thoughts around self-assessment in the event you do not pass the first time. The licensing exam can be challenging, but if we understand our learning style and be intentional in our preparation, you will walk into that exam feeling confident with great mastery in preparation under your belt.

 

For more information about the ASWB licensing board, please visit: https://www.aswb.org/exam/

For more information about the Social Work Licensing Exam and frequently asked questions, please visit: https://gerrygrossman.com/what-is-the-lcsw-exam

For more information about Social Work Licensing Exam Preparation Materials, please visit Gerry Grossman Seminars at: https://gerrygrossman.com/lcsw-exam-prep

For more information about AnkiApp Flashcard program, please visit: https://www.ankiapp.com/

For more information about Make it Stick by Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger, III, and Mark A. McDaniel, please visit: https://www.retrievalpractice.org/make-it-stick

Connect with Natalie Liberman on Instagram @insight_with_natalie or visit: https://www.instagram.com/insight_with_natalie/

Teen & Adolescent Mental Wellness with Michael Klinkner, LCSW – Episode 185

Nobody has a reference for parenting teens. For many, this is the first time doing this, so what are the right answers? Let alone what are the right answers for what you’re comfortable with. If you as a parent are doing the best you can, with the best intentions then you’re parenting fine. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Michael Klinkner. Michael is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 22 years of experience helping children, adolescents, and adults in therapy. Michael has specialty training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Neurolinguistic Programming. Currently, Michael is working with Evolve Counseling in Arizona where he treats a variety of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, and ADHD, focusing primarily on children, teen and adolescent populations. Together Graham and Michael discuss the challenges around teen mental health, the changes in positive socialization, as well as the dangers of social media and how to guide your child’s relationship with technology as they mature, and finally encouraging parents to be proactive and have the difficult conversations to establish trust with your teen and ensure they’re getting the right information. Most parents are doing the best they can, given their resources. If they had better resources they’d do better. We’re not perfect parents. What are the small, but important things you can do today?

 

For more information about Michael Klinkner and Evolve Counseling, please visit: https://www.evolvecounselingaz.com

Connect with Michael on Instagram at michael_klinknercouseling, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/evolvecounseling_AZ/

Finally, connect with Michael on Facebook at michaelklinknercounseling, or visit: https://www.facebook.com/michaelklinknercounseling

Model to Becoming a Better Leader with Dr. Richard Winters – Episode 184

The best leaders are those individuals who can connect a mission and values with the way forward and what's happening right now. And so, connecting patient stories with what you're doing and where you're wanting to go. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Dr. Richard Winters. Richard is a practicing emergency physician and an executive coach at Mayo Clinic. He is also the director of Leadership Development for the Mayo Clinical Care Network, where he facilitates retreats and delivers programs that train leaders at healthcare organizations worldwide. Richard has authored the recently published Wall Street Journal bestselling book You’re the Leader Now What? Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic. Together Graham and Richard discuss the characteristics of what makes a good leader, identifying and developing your own personal leadership style, the challenges leaders are experiencing today, developing greater self-awareness, and the various leadership personas. The best leaders are individuals who develop leaders, not followers. And so hopefully you're working with someone who's trying to get the best out of you to find your kind of leadership abilities. It's important to find where we have efficacy and in these kinds of leader-to-colleague relationships, find how we're being able to be our best in those situations.

 

For more information about Dr. Richard Winters, please visit: https://www.richardwinters.com

For more information about You’re the Leader Now What? Leadership Lessons from Mayo Clinic by Richard Winters M.D, please visit: https://www.richardwinters.com/book/

Connect with Richard Winters on Twitter, please visit: https://twitter.com/drrwinters

Connect with Richard Winters on LinkedIn, please visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardcwinters/

 

A Brighter Day, A Shining Light for Teen Suicide Prevention with Elliot Kallen– Episode 183

Every year, tens of thousands of teenagers struggle with thoughts of depression, deep sadness, isolation, suicide, stress, and feelings of helplessness. And sadly, too often the parents of these teens are the last to learn about this and sometimes too late to take action. In this episode, Dr. Graham speaks with Elliot Kallen. Elliot brings 25 years of leadership and management experience from the business sector to his role at A Brighter Day, a non-profit charity that helps spread awareness about depression and suicide prevention for teens and parents. He co-founded A Brighter Day in 2016 with his wife Tammy after the loss of their son Jake, to support young adults in their transition to adulthood and to help prevent teen suicide. Together they discussed the mindset of suicidal teens in a post-covid world, the warning signs of suicidal ideation, the problems of isolation from bullying and social media, parental tips to improve communication with their family, and the various charity programs that assist teens in crisis. You don't need to see the light at the end of the tunnel to know that it's there. You just haven't walked far enough yet. You just may need someone to walk a little bit further with you.

 

If you are a parent or teen in crisis, you can text BRIGHTER to 741741 and connect with a counselor and get immediate help. Learn more: https://abrighterday.info/741741-crisis-text-line-talk-to-someone-now/

For more information about A Brighter Day, please visit: https://abrighterday.info

To download then Parent Survival Toolkit, please visit https://abrighterday.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Parent-Resource-Toolkit.pdf

To download the Teen Suicide Toolkit, please visit: https://abrighterday.info/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Teen-Survival-Toolkit-7.pdf

For more information on A Brighter Day charity gala on November 10^th, please visit: https://abrighterday.info/virtual-gala-event/

Part 2: Succeeding with Social Emotional Learning Technology with Robin Glenn, CEO – Episode 182

This episode resumes our conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Robin Glenn.  In our last episode we identified the common mental health challenges of teens and adolescents and the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning being brought into this season of their lives. We discussed their SEL online training program, that assigns meaningful courses for students to take on their own with the goal of both teaching content but gaining insight into the student’s introspection through surveys. BASE has this learning process driven by methodology that not just sets your program apart, but it deepens the learning process. We discussed the baseline assessment that screens students against national results and how that assessment will guide the program modules that are specific to the student. As well as at-home resources and shared survey information to reinforce the SEL courses and create more connection with parents and their children. And finally, we discussed how the BASE Education program can customize data that’s informative on various levels of school positions from teacher to principles to counselor to administrators. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing how the BASE Education program can identify silent at-risk children through meaningful pointed questions.

 

For more information about BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education

To contact BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education/contact/

Part 1: Succeeding with Social Emotional Learning Technology with Robin Glenn, CEO – Episode 181

In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Robin Glenn. Robin is the CEO and co-founder of Based Education, an online mental health program that uses the social emotional learning model to help children and teens. Robin has over 20 years of experience as a licensed professional counselor working with at risk teens and has held several roles including school-based therapy specialist, private practice therapists for adolescents, treatment coordinator for intensive in and outpatient teens and research specialists in clinical trials for adolescents with addictions. Together Graham and Robin identify the common mental health challenges of teens and adolescents and the benefits of Social and Emotional Learning being brought into this season of their lives, we discussed their SEL online training program, which assigns meaningful courses for students to take on their own with the goal of both teaching content but gaining insight into the student’s introspection through surveys, we discussed the baseline assessment that screens students against national results and how that assessment will guide the program modules that are specific to the student. And finally, we discussed how the BASE Education program can customize data that are informative on various levels of school positions from teachers to principals to counselors to administrators. SEL has become the replacement for mental health help in schools and unfortunately, schools are where mental health issues tend to come out.

 

For more information about BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education

To contact BASE Education, please visit: https://base.education/contact/

Innovative Coaching for Complex Students with ADHD with Dr. Norrine Russell – Episode 180

Students with neurological or executive functioning issues are told they can't do things on their own, they need help, and there's so much going on that's a problem. Russell Coaching is working to flip that on its head and build faith and self-esteem in their students. Encouraging everyone to find the solution instead of always focusing on the problem. In this episode, Dr. Erin Elmore speaks with Dr. Norrine Russell. Dr. Russell is the founder of Russell Coaching for Students, which uses an innovative method of coaching for students with complex challenges, including those who have ADHD, Autism, Anxiety, and learning differences. Dr. Russell has over 20 years of experience in child development, learning styles, special needs, and positive parenting philosophies. She is the author of the recently published guide for parents Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis. Together Erin and Norrine discuss understanding ADHD as a neurological issue than a behavioral one, how coaching and therapy could be complimentary or supportive of one another, they discuss Russell Coaching’s model that includes: understanding the individual, connecting with the student’s team, using science and brain-based understanding, reporting, working with a leadership team, and finally customized software that supports this connected coaching model.

 

For more information about Russell Coaching, please visit: https://russellcoaching.com

For more information about Asking the Right Questions Before, During, and After Your Child’s ADHD Diagnosis by Norrine Russell, please visit: https://russellcoaching.com/adhd-book-release

To listen to Norrine Russell on other podcasts and other topics, please visit: https://russellcoaching.com/podcastsspeaking-availability

For more information about the CHADD 2022 Conference, please visit: https://chadd.org/conference/

Follow Russell Coaching on Instagram at Russell Coaching LLC, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/russellcoachingllc/

Follow Russel Coaching on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/norrine-russell-820545184/

Part 2: Psychological Responses to Privilege with Brian Lowery – Episode 179

This episode resumes our conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Brian Lowery. In our last episode, we discussed an understanding of privilege by looking at the advantages and benefits associated with a specific identity and looking at these identities on the same level to recognize the advantages that come with your circumstances. We discussed we engage with privilege and how it can activate our defense mechanisms., and finally we discussed the psychological responses to privilege and the three Ds of defense, denial, distancing, and dismantling. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing our understanding of deservingness and how the idea that your life is not solely driven by you challenges your moral worth. Who you happen to be doesn't dictate your moral standing. It's the decisions you make about how you exist in the world that do. When talking about privilege, people get worked up because it’s as if their moral character has been called into question based on characteristics they have no control over.

 

For more information about Brian Lowery and his podcast Know What You See, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com

For more information about articles and other media content by Brian Lowery about race, equity, and privilege, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com/media-page

Part 1: Psychological Responses to Privilege with Brian Lowery – Episode 178

In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Brian Lowery. Brian is a professor of Organizational Behavior and a Social Psychologist by training at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Brian is driving an initiative to shape enlightened and purposeful leaders for a diverse society. Brian’s research examines the operation of racial attitudes below the threshold of consciousness and the perception of inequality. He has been published in major scholarly journals such as the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, and Law and Human Behavior. Together Graham and Brian discuss an understanding of privilege by looking at the advantages and benefits associated with a specific identity and looking at these identities on the same level to recognize the advantages that come with your circumstances. We discuss we engage with privilege and how it can activate our defense mechanisms., and finally we discussed the psychological responses to privilege and the three Ds of defense, denial, distancing, and dismantling.

 

For more information about Brian Lowery and his podcast Know What You See, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com

For more information about articles and other media content by Brian Lowery about race, equity, and privilege, please visit: https://www.knowwhatyousee.com/media-page

 

Creating Access to LGBTQ+ Affirming Care with Steven Haden, MSW – Episode 177

Ideally, when we're struggling, we get to stop and pause and ask ourselves, or be asked by someone, what if it could look differently? And when people ask those questions of themselves, Envision: You is right there, ready for them to come into, and to be walked through, some of these things in a way that can be very therapeutic and healing. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Steven Haden, MSW. Steven is the CEO and Co-Founder to Envision: You, a non-profit that works to improve the behavioral health outcomes of the LGBTQ+ community by addressing the disparity in the care they receive. Steven is a Certified LGBTQ+ Affirming therapist, Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and public speaker on issues related to behavioral health concerns from the perspective of lived experience. Through Envision: You, Steven has helped lead an initiative to implement a multi-media public awareness campaign and no-cost virtual behavioral telehealth services to increase access to LGBTQ+ affirming care. Together they discuss the gaps in care around the LGBTQ+ community as well as the higher need for services, we discussed the importance of affirming care and the benefits of a healing place, and finally, the programs offered by Envision: You and developing the phone app YOU: Flourish, that brings together community and mental health resources to create an authentic experience specifically for the LGBTQ+ community. Envision: You are holding that hope and possibility for folks that recovery is possible, and a better day is ahead.

 

For more information about Envision: YOU, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org

For more information about the YOU: Flourish app, please visit: https://you-flourish.com

For more information about the research by the Omni Institute, please visit: https://www.omni.org/envisionyou-state-of-the-state

If you’re looking to initiate conversation and learn how to have “the talk”, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org/how-to-have-the-talk

For more information about Q is for Questioning, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org/q-is-for-questioning

For more information about Affirming Care and training, please visit: https://www.envision-you.org/lgbtq-behavioral-health-training

 

Part 2: Clinicians Series, Practicing Sleep Therapy in the Autism Community with Emily Varon, BCBA – Episode 176

This episode resumes this Clinicians’ Series conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Emily Varon, BCBA. In our last episode, we discussed the assessment process, finding symptoms, and beginning steps to create a new sleep routine. This involves an inventory on how the child falls asleep and paying attention to the changes in their sleep environment. We also see how Emily addresses and understands the goals of therapy and how to reach an endpoint. We'll resume our talk today by discussing the challenges of the therapy process and normalizing some of the bumps along the way.

 

For more information about Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com

For more information about the services provided by Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/services/

For practitioners interested in CEUs around sleep therapy, please visit: https://readysetsleep.thinkific.com

If you’d like to get in contact with Emily, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/contact-us/

Part 1: Clinicians Series, Practicing Sleep Therapy in the Autism Community with Emily Varon, BCBA – Episode 175

Today’s episode is part of our clinicians’ series, where we take you behind the therapist’s door to give you an insight into what happens within the therapeutic relationship. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Emily Varon, BCBA. Emily is a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst with a dedicated focus on sleep-related behaviors. She has over 22 years of experience and devoted her practice to improving the sleep habits of children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder since 2010. Emily’s company Ready Set Sleep, provides education, CEUs, sleep program development, and individual consultation to families seeking support with their child’s sleep. Together Graham and Emily discuss the assessment process and the beginning steps to creating a new sleep routine, taking inventory of how the child falls asleep, paying attention to the changes in their environment, and understanding the goals of therapy and how to reach an end-point.

 

For more information about Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com

For more information about the services provided by Ready.Set.Sleep, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/services/

For practitioners interested in CEUs around sleep therapy, please visit: https://readysetsleep.thinkific.com

If you’d like to get in contact with Emily, please visit: https://readysetsleep.com/contact-us/

The Risk of Malpractice & Protection of Professional Liability Insurance with Rachel Warners – Episode 174

We, as mental health professionals, come into our field with the best intentions and the best ethics and standards for practice. But no matter how professional our practice may be, an accident or misunderstanding can happen. And whether we’re at fault or not, we can find ourselves in the center of a malpractice claim and responsible for large legal and settlement fees. The best practice against harmful allegations, financially damaging lawsuits, and high legal fees is to have the appropriate form of malpractice insurance coverage. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Rachel Warners. Rachel is the Director of Operations at CPH Insurance, where, with over 10 years of experience, they provide competitively priced professional liability insurance for mental health professionals. Together Graham and Rachel discuss the kinds of insurance coverage, protection from malpractice situations, the benefits of individual coverage, and the various types of coverage available from student, to intern, to licensed practitioner. A malpractice claim is not something anybody wants to think about, but it can happen even to the most ethical practitioner. We must protect ourselves from unnecessary risks that are in an inherent part of our work as practitioners. Having the proper policy in place allows us to perform our job, to do what we've been trained to do, without the unnecessary worry of our financial assets being lost in the event of a lawsuit.

 

For more information about individual and/or incorporated Allied and Mental Health Malpractice Insurance and CPH & Associates, please visit: https://www.cphins.com

For more information about the CPH Insurance Blog, please visit: https://www.cphins.com/category/mental-health/

To contact CPH Insurance for more information please call 800-875-1911 or visit the contact us page at https://www.cphins.com/contact-us/

Part 2: Creating Space for the Adoptive Experience with Moses Farrow, MFT – Episode 173

This episode resumes the conversation with Dr. Graham Taylor and his guest Moses Farrow, LMFT. In our last episode, we discussed the unique perspective and identity of adopted people, the importance of raising awareness around the adoptive process and some of the challenges around it, the need for safe spaces and the importance of trauma-informed perspective when addressing the adopted community, and finally, we discussed the experience of disenfranchised grief around the loss of life before adoption and infringement on the right to be able to grieve that loss. We’ll resume our talk today by discussing the importance for parents and communities to provide well-informed environments for adoptive people.

 

For more information about Moses Farrow, please visit: https://mosesfarrow.com

For more information about Adoption Trauma, please visit: https://www.transformadoption.com

For more information about #truthislouder, please visit: https://www.truthislouder.org

Connect with Moses on social media,

• on twitter @MosesFarrow and use #truthislouder for adoption trauma awareness or visit: https://twitter.com/MosesFarrow
• on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/moses.farrow.50
• or on Instagram at mosesafarrow, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/mosesafarrow/
• or email Moses directly at moses@mosesfarrow.com

Part 1: Creating Space for the Adoptive Experience with Moses Farrow, MFT – Episode 172

About 135,000 children are adopted in the United States each year. About 59% of those are from the child welfare or foster care system. 26% are from other countries and about 15% are voluntarily surrendered American babies. While a number of adoptions do go well, there are common, though often unrecognized and unaddressed issues within the adoption process and within the developmental stages, post adoption that deserves some attention. Trauma can in fact be evident in every part of the adoption experience, even the parts that seem perfect. In this episode, Dr. Graham Taylor speaks with Moses Farrow, MFT. Moses is an Adoption Trauma Educator and Marriage and Family Therapist with more than 20 years in the mental health field. As a survivor of child abuse, adoption trauma, and suicide loss, Moses bridges his personal and professional experiences to raise awareness of the human rights and public health issues many adopted people have been facing. Together Graham and Moses discuss the importance of raising awareness around the adoptive process and some of the challenges around it. There is a need for safe spaces and the importance of a trauma-informed perspective when addressing the adopted community.

 

For more information about Moses Farrow, please visit: https://mosesfarrow.com

For more information about Adoption Trauma, please visit: https://www.transformadoption.com

For more information about #truthislouder, please visit: https://www.truthislouder.org

Connect with Moses on social media,

• on twitter @MosesFarrow and use #truthislouder for adoption trauma awareness or visit: https://twitter.com/MosesFarrow
• on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/moses.farrow.50
• or on Instagram at mosesafarrow, or visit: https://www.instagram.com/mosesafarrow/
• or email Moses directly at moses@mosesfarrow.com