Sh*t You Wish You Learned in Grad School with Jennifer Agee, LCPC Jennifer Agee, LCPC

If you are lucky, you get one class in grad school that focuses on sexual health and how to help clients navigate the various topics around sexual health. Therapists talk about sex without clients all the time and many feel unprepared. In this episode, Sarah Watson, the founder of Simple Sex Education, shares her experience in working with clients and how therapists can feel more comfortable and competent in this area. 
Sarah Watson is a licensed professional counselor, AASECT certified sex therapist, and sexuality educator. Sarah has a therapy practice located in Michigan, where she works with individuals and couples struggling with relationship and sexual health issues. Sarah provides online workshops, retreats, courses, coaching and consultation about sexual health. 
Sarah is very passionate about providing a safe and caring environment to discuss and process sexual and mental health issues. Sarah spends her “down” time with her family, listening to podcasts, reading, and enjoying her family farm in northern Michigan where they have two miniature donkeys named Burrito and Taco!
OFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:
Simple Sex Education Email List Counseling Community TikTokJennifer Agee coaching pageDestination Continuing Education Facebook communityCounseling Community Instagram

During this episode, Jennifer Agee, LCPC (she/her) discusses how therapists can craft a simple and effective elevator pitch to grow their practice, network or share what they do when others outside the field ask. Jennifer shares 3 questions to use as your guide. 
TOPICS IN THIS EPISODE:
Creating an effective elevator pitchOFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:
Counseling Community TikTokJennifer Agee coaching pageCounseling Community Facebook communityCounseling Community InstagramSouth Africa Entrepreneurial Innovators Retreat Feb. 4-10, 2024

Dr. Laura Chackes, Psy. D. explains what therapists need to understand about treating Body-Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRB’s). The most common BFRB’s being Trichotillomania, aka hair pulling, and Excoriation, aka skin picking.

Laura Chackes, founder and owner of The Center for Mindfulness & CBT in St. Louis, is a licensed psychologist who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with OCD and body-focused repetitive behaviors (BFRBs). Dr. Chackes is a leading expert in the treatment of BFRBs such as skin picking and hair pulling. She has been running treatment groups for children, adolescents, and adults in St. Louis for over 10 years, and teaches courses online to adults with BFRBs, as well as to train therapists how to treat these disorders. Her mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy approach has led hundreds of BFRB sufferers to long-term symptom relief.

Dr. Chackes is also a fierce advocate working to spread awareness of BFRBs in order to reduce the shame and isolation that comes from the public's lack of knowledge of these disorders. Her Facebook group, Overcoming Skin Picking and Hair Pulling: Help for BFRBs, has connected over 4000 BFRB sufferers, parents, and therapists to learn more about how they can best support one another.
OFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:
Dr. Laura Chackes Online Training for Therapists Jennifer Agee coaching pageDestination Continuing Education Facebook communityCounseling Community Instagram

Rick and Monique Elgersma have for 30 years been partners in life and partners in business. Since 2015 they have been co-therapy specialists. They’ve experienced ups and downs like any couple and sought counseling. They noted the difficulty of both of them feeling heard, understood, and respected at the same time! Alas, Co-Therapy was born.
Rick and Monique share the reason they have chosen to own a practice built using co-therapy, the practicalities like scheduling and billing and how to maintain a healthy work-life business when you are married and business partners. 
Counseling together with clients certainly creates balance in the counseling room and reduces bias. Co-Therapy makes certain that no one will get ganged up on or feel left out of the counseling process. And, Co-Therapy is more creative and collaborative, a true “round table” equality-driven effort in the counseling room. Three years ago they added the enneagram to their efforts for clients, and have since become enneagram experts and coaches.
OFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:
Real Connections Counseling Podcast listeners receive 10% discount on retreat registrationJennifer Agee's coaching pageDestination Continuing Education Facebook communityCounseling Community Instagram

Laurie Belanger, LCSW shares how to use science to create felt safety in your office for your clients. Often in grad school, we hear of things like polyvagal theory but are never taught how to use what we know about the brain and body to help our clients regulate and co-regulate. 
Laurie M Belanger LCSWR has been providing services to children, adults, and families for over 20yrs in Western NY.  She is passionate about serving the needs of families coping with multi-layered, complicated concerns.  Laurie has a strong interest and background in trauma, sensory development, chronic pain, adoption, mental health, and neurodiversity. She is an approved EMDR Consultant through EMDRIA, and was professionally trained in TBRI®️ (Trust Based Relational Interventions) by the Karyn Purvis Institute of Child Development.
Laurie currently provides individual and family therapy and professional consultation in her private practice setting in East Amherst NY.  She includes access to some of the most up-to-date trauma therapies and supports in her practice.  Included in this is The SSP (Safe and Sound Protocol), a Polyvagal informed, evidence-based therapeutic tool designed to reset the nervous system and return it to safety. 
OFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:
Laurie Belanger website Counseling Community TikTokJennifer Agee coaching pageDestination Continuing Education Facebook communityCounseling Community Instagram

Gabriel Valdez, owner of Nerdalert Solutions & Web Therapia, has established himself as a leading authority in private and group therapist marketing. In this episode, we discuss:
The importance of having a website that is HIPAA and ADA compliant.Google My Business 101 - what you need to know.On page SEO as a part of consistent ranking and conversion.Gabriel specializes in SEO and online presence that gains results. With his diverse skill set as an entrepreneur, therapist marketing expert, user experience and user interface specialist, business strategy coach, and ADA & HIPAA compliance specialist. Gabriel offers a range of invaluable marketing talents.
Driven by his nit-picky, OCD, and intuitive nature, Gabriel possesses a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of effective marketing strategies. His
knowledge of online technology allows him to precisely target specific audiences, delivering the exposure therapists desire with excellent results. Having served clients from various business backgrounds, Gabriel’s digital marketing services have proven effective in diverse industries.
Gabriel’s guidance empowers therapists to unlock their full potential, navigate the digital landscape effectively, and achieve exceptional success. Whether seeking assistance with SEO optimization, website design, business strategy, or ADA & HIPAA compliance, Gabriel’s expertise positions him as a trusted partner in helping therapists flourish in their practices.
OFFERS & HELPFUL LINKS:
Nerdalert Solutions website WebTherapia websiteCounseling Community TikTokJennifer Agee coaching pageDestination Continuing Education Facebook communityCounseling Community Instagram