Edge of the Couch

Mar 20 2024 33

Edge of the Couch Podcast artwork

Two good friends and experienced therapists explore the topics that were either shied away from or dismissed because they were too big, too nuanced, too risky, or too uncomfortable to address in school or even in supervision. We want to inspire and encourage new therapists to think more deeply, show up more fully, and find humour and self-compassion in navigating the messier parts of being a therapist.

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Celebrating 100 Episodes: A Love Letter to Ourselves and to You, Our Listeners

Mar 20 2024 56 mins

In this special episode, we look back at the history of our podcast, our favourite episodes, and the vulnerable things about doing the podcast. We read some recent DMs from Instagram, a one-star review, and we listen to some voice notes sent in by listeners. We recorded this one late at night (for us at least!) so we get a little loopy at the end saying thank you thank you thank yo

Managing Our Own Shit When It's Activated in Session

Mar 13 2024 37 mins

Our penultimate episode this season explores what can happen when the content of the session tugs at all of our own shit! Maybe we’re experiencing something similar to our clients in our own lives or the client says something that reminds us of ourselves. Maybe the client experience is pulling forward memories of something we’ve said or done before. This episode is all about wh

When You Feel Like You Need to Prove Yourself

Mar 06 2024 39 mins

In this episode, we dive into a common struggle suggested by one of our awesome listeners: the nagging feeling of not "doing enough" in therapy. Join us as we unpack this topic and ask ourselves the question: Do trainings really make you a better therapist? We share our experiences and some controversial opinions. Whether you're a seasoned therapist or just starting

When a Client Rejects Us

Feb 28 2024 43 mins

This is a highly requested topic that comes with so much charge and tenderness. This week, we’re talking about being rejected by a client. We explore the myriad of rejections that can happen in the relationship - both micro and macro moments.We tenderly share what can come up for therapists when a client stops scheduling sessions or tells us they want to stop seeing us. This is a

Starting and Ending Sessions

Feb 21 2024 32 mins

This week we are taking it back to the basics-- how to open and close sessions! We share our favourite opening questions/remarks, talk about why it can be valuable to avoid “how are you” as the opening question, and what to do when clients look to you, the therapist, to lead.On the flip side, we wrap up the session by talking about the benefits of an intentional closing with cl

Responding to "I Don't Know"

Feb 14 2024 39 mins

This week, we’re sharing how we respond when clients answer with “I don’t know”s. We talk about why “I don’t know” can feel so discombobulating, how to respond effectively and without panicking, what these responses might mean from clients, and why they can help deepen the therapy work. We explore both when clients who often have robust answers suddenly give us an “

Cancellations, Late Cancellations, and No-Shows

Feb 07 2024 46 mins

No-show and cancellation conversations are some of the most charged and controversial among therapists. There are constant debates about whether to charge for cancellations or not, how much notice is reasonable to therapists, and how strict or flexible to be with these policies.This week we deep dive into the huge importance of having clear policies that have been communicated to c

Helping Clients Take Relational Risks

Jan 31 2024 36 mins

Many clients come to therapy with a history of charged relationship dynamics. Maybe they’ve been people-pleasing, maybe they shut others out, maybe they have difficulty being vulnerable with friends, maybe they crave closeness but don’t know how to get it, maybe they dance between investing too little in relationships to putting everything into them, maybe they never rock the b

Disillusionment, Exhaustion, and the Economy: Why so many therapists are leaving the field

Jan 24 2024 31 mins

If you’re on any therapy forums, part of a therapist group, or even currently becoming a therapist, you’ve undoubtedly seen people talking about therapists leaving the field. One of the most common questions we get from new therapists is how to know if the field is right for them given how much of a hard time they are having. This week we discuss our theories about why so many

The Differences and Similarities Between In-Person and Virtual Sessions

Jan 17 2024 45 mins

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed the landscape of therapy. Where before 2020 online therapy was met with a great deal of skepticism and judgment, once in-person sessions were no longer possible, clinicians across the world had to pivot into virtual work. At first, it seemed that the changes may only be temporary (“just until it’s safe to be in-person again”) but here