What Your Therapist Is Reading ®

Episode 26: Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships

After listening, make sure you follow along on instagram @therapybookspodcast to learn about the latest giveaway!
In this weeks episode Jessica Fowler interviews Dr. Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT about her book Gaslighting: A Step-by-Step Recovery Guide to Heal from Emotional Abuse and Build Healthy Relationships.
In this episode we discuss what gaslighting is and isn't.  Deborah shares how the book is in two parts.  The first part discusses what gaslighting is, techniques someone will use and an overview of emotional abuse and recovery.  The second step walks readers through 7 steps to healing from gaslighting and emotional abuse.  Topics covered include accepting that it is happening, understanding the cycle of gaslighting, grief and loving yourself.
Deborah shares some of the various places in our lives that we can experience gaslighting and explores some of the reasons someone might stay in the relationship.  Deborah also explores some of the safety issues that can exist within the relationship.
Deborah also shares about exploring healthy relationships and green flags.  We discuss some of the exercises in the book which include self assessment quiz, journaling and emotion freedom technique.  
Deborah Vinall, PsyD, LMFT, is a licensed marriage and family therapist and doctor of psychology, certified in both EMDR and Brainspotting Therapy. She incorporates these approaches  into her work with survivors of trauma and difficult relationships in her private practice.  Deborah has spoken as a subject matter expert on human trafficking and domestic violence at colleges and nonprofits across Southern California.  She was awarded the EMDR Research Foundation's Sandra Wilson Memorial Dissertation Grant Award for her research on the impacts on and treatment response of survivors of mass shootings.  Born and raised in Kelowna, Canada, Deborah presently lives in Southern California with her husband and son.
Deborah has also written a second book called Trauma Recovery Workbook for Teens.
You can connect with Deborah on her website or on instagram.
 
 
 
 

Episode 25: Parent Proof Shaming: Find Your Unique Parenting Voice, Feel Empowered, and Raise Whole, Healthy Children

In this weeks episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Mercedes Samudio, LCSW about her book Shame Proof Parenting: Find Your Unique Parenting Voice, Feel Empowered, and Raise Whole Healthy Children.  
Mercedes shares in this episode how she does not teach people how to parent but rather become shame proof in their parenting.  Shame proof parenting is understanding that people will have their opinions and judgments but exploring how you are going to let it impact self.  Some ways to do this that we explored are empathy, knowing needs, boundaries, and awareness.
Other topics we discussed were confidence, developing your shame proof village, understanding behaviors are needs and permission to grow into the parent you want to be.
Lastly, we discussed culture, spirituality and religion.
 
Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a Mercedes Samudio, LCSW is a licensed psychotherapist, bestselling author, international speaker, and visionary entrepreneur. She works with parents worldwide to develop a healthy identity with her revolutionary Parental Identity Development Model – incorporating her Shame-Proof Parenting framework to help reduce the shame parents experience as they raise healthy children. Mercedes is also trained in trauma-informed modalities, which she uses in her work with parents to help them heal the past traumas that can influence how they interact with themselves and their children. 
You can connect with Mercedes at her website. 

Episode 24: Conversations Worth Having for Clinicians, Caseworkers, and Coaches: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Foster Wellbeing

In this weeks episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Micheal Emmart, Ed.D and Laura Torres, LCMHC who co-authored Conversations Worth Having for Clinicians, Case Workers, & Coaches: Using Appreciative Inquiry to Foster Wellbeing by Michael Emmart, Laura Torres, Cheri Torres, and Jackie Stavros.  
Laura and Michael shared how the books is based off of two simple Appreciative Inquiry practices- generative questions and positive framing which allows for important conversations to happen.  
We also discuss the importance of tuning into ourselves while working with clients and asking what is happening to me if I am feeling frustrated, overwhelmed, etc.  
Laura and Michael also shared the importance of being in a place of curiosity and we can get back to curiosity while with our clients.  
Conversations Worth Having Website
Biographies
Laura Torres, LCMHC
Laura has been practicing psychotherapy for more than 10 years. She is currently working in private practice in Asheville, North Carolina, where she lives with her partner and 10-year-old son. Laura has worked in a wide range of settings with various populations spanning community mental health settings, residential and outpatient settings.  Laura's therapeutic approach and background is eclectic in that it draws on a variety of different modalities including Internal Family Systems, Solution Focused Brief Therapy, Hakomi, Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), Somatic and Attachment Focused EMDR.  Laura is also a certified life coach and yoga instructor. 
You can connect with Laura on instagram or facebook. 
www.lauratorrescounseling.com   
www.lauratorrescoaching.com
Michael Emmart, Ed.D
Michael is often sought out as a subject matter expert on child welfare, justice involved, and cross-over youth.  He has filled a variety of roles over more than 25 years in the field, including: direct care staff, caseworker, counselor, trainer, senior administrator, nonprofit executive, and university-based consultant.  Michael is also a founding member of the Institute for Just Outcomes through Conversation (IJOC), which is housed within Case Western Reserve University’s Fowler Center for Business as an Agent of World benefit, currently serving as Executive Director.  He has taught and written extensively on the value of incorporating appreciative inquiry-based conversations within the human services field.
Michael lives in the beautiful Finger Lakes region of Central New York where he lives with his wife and children. 
Institute for Just Outcomes through Conversation: https://case.edu/weatherhead/fowler/programs/just-conversations 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelemmart/
 

Episode 23: Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs to Know

In this weeks episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Keri Cooper, LCSW about her book Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs to Know.  Keri shares her insight in what parents and teens need to know about mental health.  She shares about physical foundations which includes things like eating healthy, exercise and sleep (something teens are not always getting a lot of).  The second section of the book shares mental health foundations which include topics of saying no, not being responsible for others feelings and disappointment. Keri highlights the importance of teaching kids boundaries, whether it is with friends or with their phone.  Lastly, Keri shares some of her tips to help implement these strategies for your own family.  
Keri Cooper, LCSW is the owner of Keri Cooper Holistic Therapy in northern New Jersey.  In her private practice, she counsels teens and works to give them the tools they need to navigate life.  Keri takes a holistic approach to therapy, looking at the whole person, not just their symptoms.  Keri is the author of Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Parent Needs To Know, a book designed to give parents steps on how to improve their child's mental health.  Her second book is a workbook for teens, Mental Health Uncensored: 10 Foundations Every Teen Needs To Know.  She is a speaker and writer who helps educate teens and parents on the topics teens face in everyday life.  She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and continues to further her education by obtaining additional certifications in her field, one of her favorite pastimes!  When Keri isn't busy working with teens, she is busy with her own four children and her flock of chickens.  You can reach Keri at Keri@kericooperholistictherapy.com or on instagram @kericooperholistictherapy

Episode 22: After Your Person Dies: Affirmations for Grief, Making Meaning, and Going On.

In this weeks episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Dr. Linda Shanti McCabe about her book After Your Person Dies: Affirmations for Grief, Making Meaning, and Going On.  
 
In this episode we discuss how this book is meant to be a short companion for someone who has lost a person they loved.  Linda kindly reads two of her affirmations as well.
 
Linda shares how this book started with her own paintings she made through her own grief.
 
We discussed how the stages of grief of descriptive, not prescriptive.  Linda shared ideas for rituals and making meaning for those that are grieving.  
 
We discuss complicated grief as a new diagnose in the DSM-5.  
 
Dr. Linda Shanti McCabe is a psychologist, registered expressive arts therapist, coach, and person traveling with grief. She has been passionate about helping women recover from disordered eating and body image distress for the past 25 years and, now, assisting grievers move forward (NOT on. We don't move on) with grace.
 
You can connect with Dr. Linda Shanti McCabe at  here, on facebook or instagram.

Episode 21: Strong: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man

Welcome to season 3!  
 
In this weeks episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Kristal DeSantis, LMFT about her book Strong: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man.  Kristal shares how she wrote this book after recognizing that there was a lack of resources for men. There is often books and groups she could refer her female clients to, but not her male clients. 
 
Kristal shares that one day she was scrolling twitter and saw the quote "Everybody is busy empowering women.  The worry is, who is preparing men for these empowered women?" Lillian Orwah. We discuss this quote, the importance for resources for men and how relationship roles have changed.
Kristal DeSantis, LMFT also shares how the book is divided into two parts.  Section one is about safety, as we all need to feel safe in relationships.  Section two is about thriving.  
 
We also discuss some of the history of how roles that women and men have had and misconceptions that continue today.
 
You can connect with Kristal DeSantis, LMFT on instagram @atxtherapist or connect with her on linktr.ee  
Kristal DeSantis is a Texas Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Clinically Certified Trauma Professional, a Certified Sex Therapist Informed Professional, and a State of Texas approved Premarital Education Provider. She is the creator of The STRONG Model of Relational Therapy.Her specialties include: Couples’ Therapy (including sexual desire discrepancy/ out of control sexual behaviors/recovery from infidelity), EMDR for trauma and PTSD recovery, PREPARE/Enrich Premarital Counseling, Conflict and Communication skill-building for high conflict couples, Emotional regulation and healing from attachment trauma. Her passion populations are high performing/self-identified hyper-masculine men and those who love them.
 
S.T.R.O.N.G.: A Relationship Field Guide for the Modern Man is her first book.

Episode 20: Aligned as f*ck: Transforming Your Inner A**holes into Allies (like anxiety)

In this week episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Lynn Dutrow  about her book Aligned as F*ck: Transforming Your Inner Assholes* into Allies (Like Anxiety).
In this episode, Lynn shares how it is important to recognize your inner asshole (such as your inner critic, anxiety and imposter), turn that into allies and help your inner CEO take charge.  Lynn shares about her In Real Life actions steps that she offers in the book.   
Lynn Dutrow is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Author, and Compassionate AssKicker with a background in psychology, education, coaching, and motorcycle sales (a story for another book). Lynn specializes in supporting The Responsible Rebels* to do less, be more, and enjoy their success with less stress.
*brave small business owners, empathic entrepreneurs, and purpose fueled professionals
You can connect with Lynn on linkedin, instagram and facebook.

Episode 19: Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities

This week, Jessica Fowler interviews Dr. Rachel Altvater about her book Perspective: Contemplating the Complexities of Our Realities.  The book is described as "This psychological, self-insight 'think book' aims to shed light on the complexities of human perspective."  Rachel shares how we all have similar experiences, but we have our own filter for our perceptions through our thoughts, feelings and experiences.  During this episode, Rachel shares some examples of how this plays out in our lives.  She explores how we actually only see a fraction of what people are like and often because we only choose to share certain parts of ourselves.  Rachel also shares about various theories of psychology and why this can be important to know, particularly if you are going to therapy.  
You can connect with Dr. Rachel Altvater here.

Episode 18: The Rebellious Widow: A Practical Guide to Love and Life After Loss

In this weeks episode, Jessica Fowler interviews Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW about her book The rebellious WIDOW: A practical Guide to Love and Life After Loss.  In this episode Jill is open about her own experience with grief after losing two of her wives. She shares about her experience with grief and because of that learned to do what is best for her and that does not always follow the "rules" of grief.  She explores how to challenge some of those believes and how to set boundaries.  Jill shares how it is important to allow people their own journey in grief and change.  Jill has authored several other books and is the co-owner of Central Counseling Services in Riverside, California. 
You can connect with Jill Johnson-Young, LCSW on instagram, Facebook and other social media platforms.

Episode 17: The Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Workbook: A Counsellor-Designed Guide to Help You Understand and Support Your Postpartum Mental Health

This week, Jessica Fowler interviews Ruth Skutezky, M.A. Registered Clinical Counsellor, Perinatal Mental Health who is the co-author of the workbook The Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Workbook: A Counsellor-Designed Guide to Help You Understand and Support Your Postpartum Mental Health.  This workbook is co-authored with Andrea Stewart, MA. Registered Clinical Counsellor Reproductive Mental Health Specialist. In this episode we talk about the importance of maternal mental health.  Ruth shares about how the workbook covers topics such as all the various diagnoses related to postpartum mental health, sleep, communication with your partner, and self-care.  This book is a short alternative for those that want something that is easy to read.  It is a digital book and can be purchased on the website illuminate-online.com. 
You can connect with Ruth on instagram @illuminate_counselling