We're taking the couch on the road! Join us between May 9th and May 24th, we'll be heading to 8 Canadian cities for a LIVE episode recording and a chance to connect with other therapists in your area. We hope to see you there! We are going on a cross-Canada tour in May 2026! Keep an eye out for dates! Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or...

In this episode, we talk about how we can use our shared experience of media to enrich therapeutic work and deepen our relationships with our clients. We mention recent media like Heated Rivalry and the Oprah special on parental estrangement. We also talk about media that stays relevant, like Inside Out. If you enjoyed this episode, join us on patreon, where we often discuss pop culture and current events, in the context of therapeutic work. We are going on a cross-Canada tour in May 2026! Ke...

When despair shows up in session, it can be challenging to know how to respond. It's delicate. You don't want to move too quickly, tip into toxic positivity, and look for the silver lining, nor do you want the client to dive into those feelings only to fall deeper into abject hopelessness. In this episode, we talk about how we work with despair. It requires finely tuned clinical skills, and we hope that this conversation can help you feel less stuck when working with folks struggling with des...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeofthecouch. We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpen...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeofthecouch. We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpen...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeofthecouch. We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpen...

In this episode, we answer a DM about new grads calling themselves 'specialists' right out of school. We share about what we think the standards are (or should be) to consider yourself a specialist in a specific client population, presenting concern, and/or modality. Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeoft...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeofthecouch. We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpen...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeofthecouch. We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpen...

Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email at connect@edgeofthecouch.com, or voice note at speakpipe.com/edgeofthecouch. We have partnered with Janeapp, an all-in-one practice management software. You can learn more at Jane.app/mentalhealth. Or, if you are ready to get started, mention Edge of the Couch in the note during sign up. Alison McCleary www.alpenglowcounselling.com @alpen...

Self-awareness is a gift, right? Until it isn’t. Self-awareness can help us grow, connect, and live more fully. But when it goes too far, it can crystallize into self-criticism, intellectualizing, and anxiety. In this episode, we talk about what happens when clients almost have TOO much self-awareness. Alison opens the conversation with a quote from Girls star, Jemima Kirke, who once told “unconfident young women” that maybe they’re just “thinking about themselves too much.” We discuss how th...

For the first time on Edge of the Couch, we’re bringing you a Part 2! The response on Instagram (@edgeofthecouchpod!) to the topic of oversaturation was so engaging that we knew we had to continue the conversation. In this episode, we take it deeper: Does the field weed out bad therapists? In a sea of therapists, what does a good fit really mean? And how can we push back against the culture of competition in the field, instead rooting ourselves in accountability, consultation, and community? ...

Welcome back for Season 9 of Edge of the Couch! And hello to those of you who might be just starting your grad programs and finding us for the first time. When we were in school, professors kept bringing up their concern that there was oversaturation in the field. So, we discuss this question: Is it true that there are too many therapists? That question feels even more pressing now than when we first started the podcast five years ago, as the landscape of the field has shifted dramatica...

In the final episode of the season, we revisit the topic of imposter syndrome. We talked about imposter syndrome in the very first episode of the podcast way back in 2021. How has our thinking about imposter syndrome evolved since then? In this episode, we explore what it looks like to own your experience as a therapist, even when there is still discomfort and self-doubt. We also share what is bringing each of us imposter-y feelings lately. We discuss how privilege shapes who feels like an im...

What do therapists mean when they say someone has a "victim mentality"? In this episode, we unpack this flippant term and explore what’s going on underneath it. We recognize that "victim mentality" is applied to several distinct phenomena. We discuss the difference between being an actual victim of harm, using "victimhood" as a protective defense, and unprocessed grief or trauma. We also examine how "victim mentality" is often used to discredit marginalized people and survivors of violence. F...

Have you ever found yourself being the villain in someone else’s story? In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to be perceived as "the bad guy." As therapists, we will get cast as the villain at some point. Our clients get cast as the bad guy in their other relationships. In some ways, it's inevitable. And not everyone gets a redemption arc. How have you been cast as the villain? -- Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person events, and over 150 webinars to choose from at...

Has another therapist ever told you, “You shouldn’t work harder than the client”? In this episode, we talk about what people really mean when they use this phrase. We unpack how privilege, trauma, the relationship, theoretical orientation, and modality all shape what “effort” really looks like in the therapy room. What do we lose when we expect therapy to be equal effort? What does it mean to "work hard" in therapy anyway? -- Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person eve...

You know those moments in session when something inside says, "Something just shifted", "Pause here", or "Hmm..this is not lining up"? In this episode, we dig into what it means to follow our therapist intuition. We talk about how intuition grows over time, how it shows up in the room, and how we tentatively introduce our impressions. What’s your relationship with intuition in the therapy room... and how do you know when to trust it? -- Check out Leading Edge's upcoming free events, in-person...

In light of the recent mass killing at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in Vancouver, we decided not to publish an episode this week. We're honouring that our bodies need more time to grieve, recalibrate, and rest. We know many of you have also been impacted and we hope you're honouring your needs as well. Donate directly to families impacted. Join us on Patreon for bonus content at www.patreon.com/edgeofthecouch or share your thoughts and questions via DM on Instagram @edgeofthecouchpod, email a...

Are therapists who "call out" their clients more effective? This week, we’re responding to a Reddit post from a therapist who proudly claims to be a "mean therapist". They describe themselves as solution-focused, direct, and not afraid to hold clients accountable. We unpack what might be behind that identity, what types of therapists and settings tend towards mean-ness, and what might be driving someone drawn to that kind of therapist. We also explore our own uneasiness with the term, and why...