Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule
Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen
52 episodes
3 days ago
How many times have you said — or thought — ‘I’d love to take better care of myself, but I just don’t have the time’? Or, ‘I’m way too tired.’ Or maybe, ‘I can’t afford it right now.’ These are probably the three biggest roadblocks therapists and other caring professionals name when it comes to self-care: time, energy, and money. And we get it — those are real constraints. But here’s the thing: when we define self-care as something that requires extra time, energy, or money...
All content for Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule is the property of Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
How many times have you said — or thought — ‘I’d love to take better care of myself, but I just don’t have the time’? Or, ‘I’m way too tired.’ Or maybe, ‘I can’t afford it right now.’ These are probably the three biggest roadblocks therapists and other caring professionals name when it comes to self-care: time, energy, and money. And we get it — those are real constraints. But here’s the thing: when we define self-care as something that requires extra time, energy, or money...
How many times have you said — or thought — ‘I’d love to take better care of myself, but I just don’t have the time’? Or, ‘I’m way too tired.’ Or maybe, ‘I can’t afford it right now.’ These are probably the three biggest roadblocks therapists and other caring professionals name when it comes to self-care: time, energy, and money. And we get it — those are real constraints. But here’s the thing: when we define self-care as something that requires extra time, energy, or money...
Here’s something that might surprise you: some of the best self-care doesn’t feel good in the moment. Think about it — how many times have you dreaded going for a run, having that hard conversation, or finally making the dentist appointment you’ve been putting off… only to feel so much lighter, clearer, and better afterward? We often expect self-care to look easy and comforting, like bubble baths and spa days. But sometimes, self-care looks like sweating, crying, or facing somethi...
When was the last time you said ‘no’ to someone? And we don’t mean a playful no, or a no with an apology attached, but a real, solid, unapologetic ‘no.’ If you’re anything like most therapists — especially women in our field — that question might make you squirm a little. Because somewhere along the way, we got the message that taking care of ourselves means we’re taking something away from someone else. That it’s indulgent. Or worse — selfish. But what if we told you that choosing yourself i...
If you’re a therapist who feels like self-care always comes last, you’re not alone. Most of us were trained—implicitly or explicitly—to treat our own needs as optional, something to squeeze in after clients, paperwork, and family demands. But what if that belief is exactly what’s draining your energy, your clarity, and even your ability to show up fully for the people you serve? In today’s episode, we’re kicking off a new series that challenges outdated ideas about self-care and replaces them...
What if your to-do list isn’t the problem — but rather a quiet signal that one of your self-care pillars is out of balance? As therapists, we’re trained to notice these signs in others, but we often overlook the gentle nudges from within: things like a creeping sense of resentment, a loss of joy, or a growing disconnection from the parts of ourselves that used to feel vibrant. As we kick off a new season of Putting You In Your Schedule, we’re inviting you to slow down with us and take s...
What if the real secret to sustainable self-care isn’t about working harder—or even trying to be “better”—but simply about noticing, connecting, and giving yourself permission to take small, imperfect steps? In today’s episode, we’re taking a second look at the many self-care experiments we’ve shared throughout the year to reveal a refreshingly doable framework that can support you, not just in theory, but in real life. As we wrap up the season and head into summer, we’re reflecting on the co...
Have you ever looked at your schedule and wondered why everyone else’s needs made the cut—but yours didn’t? In this podcast episode, we’re exploring a question we hear all the time: Why can’t I actually put myself in my schedule?! If you resonate with this question, know that you are not alone, and, that you are not doing anything wrong. Please stick around as we explore what contributes to this struggle of protecting the time we want to devote to our self-care. And m...
What does your typical day look like? Does it include regularly occurring breaks or do you often find yourself constantly on the go? If you’re like most of the female mental health therapists we’ve spoken with, most of your days probably feel like you’re going non-stop, both at work and at home. And while there can admittedly be some sense of accomplishment that comes with fitting as many things from our never ending “to-do list” into our days, it comes at a cost. In ...
Have your sessions with clients ever incorporated the topic of assertiveness and its related benefits? If so, then you’re likely familiar with the “Personal Bill of Rights” and how eye opening this resource can be to clients, particularly those who’ve regularly either ignored their needs or put them well below those of others. The Personal Bill of Rights can offer our clients a different way of thinking about themselves which, in turn, can help them start shifting their actions in ways ...
How often do you take time to reflect on your beliefs and the ways they might be influencing your self-care? If you’re like most female mental health therapists, you’re likely so busy tending to your professional and personal roles and responsibilities that this hasn’t even crossed your mind. Yet, the reality is many of us may be unknowingly buying into beliefs that could be sabotaging our self-care. In today’s episode we look at three types of unhelpful beliefs and the ways they ...
As a mental health professional, you undoubtedly know the significant role our relationships can have on our overall well-being. In fact, it’s probably something you discuss with most, if not all your clients at some point during therapy. But how often do you take the same time and care to reflect on your own relationships with others? In today’s episode we revisit the connection pillar of our 4 C’s model, this time, focusing on our connections to others and the important ro...
Have you ever thought of documentation as a form of self-care? Of course, probably not! We know that more likely, documentation often feels like a time-consuming, mentally draining task that takes away from the work you truly care about. But we are here to try to convince you that documentation can actually be a key part of our self-care. Yes, you heard that right. There are ways to turn this often stressful task into a tool for personal and professional well-bei...
How often do you think of values when you think about self-care? If you’re like many of us, probably not very often or at all. Yet the reality is our values can play a huge role in our self-care, whether we think about them or not. In this week's episode we explore three important ways values are related to self-care. And although most of the time connecting with our values is truly a valuable thing to do, you might also be surprised to hear that sometimes values can ...
Do you ever find yourself wondering why self-care seems to come so easily for some of your colleagues or why you and your colleagues struggle in different ways with self-care? Or maybe you’ve been disappointed with the “one-size fits” all self-care messages you’ve been fed. If so, you’re not alone. In today’s episode, we’re diving into the topic of individual differences. As female mental health clinicians, we share a lot in common, but we’re also each unique, and that uniqueness can play a h...
We’re about to explore something that may surprise you—your brain’s survival instincts are still influencing how you approach self-care, and they might be working against you. Have you ever wondered why saying "no" feels impossible or why you can't seem to prioritize yourself no matter how hard you try? What if the answer lies in how our brains are wired for survival, and how that wiring affects everything from guilt to stress? In this episode, we’re going to unpack how your evolutionary wiri...
Ever feel like you’re always giving—whether it’s to your clients, your family, or even strangers on the street—and somehow your own needs get pushed aside? You're not alone. In fact, this might be part of a much bigger issue that’s rigged against women when it comes to self-care. If you're a female therapist, juggling the demands of your clients, family, and personal well-being, this episode is going to shine a light on why that balance feels so elusive—and what you can do to break the cycle....
Do you often find yourself working hard, yet questioning your abilities, feeling like you’re just pretending to be competent, waiting to be found out? If you’re a female therapist wrestling with imposter syndrome and the pressures of a lingering student mindset, you’re not alone, and this episode is for you. We’ll explore how these internal struggles can impact your self-care and professional fulfillment. Join us as we explore the traits that once helped you succeed but may now be holding you...
Have you ever felt the weight of your clients' struggles lingering long after your sessions end? Spent evenings and weekends fretting over whether you used the right interventions, or should have tried something different? We sure have, and we know we aren’t alone in this. That’s why in this episode, we’re shining a light on the hazards of the mental health profession—those challenges that often go unspoken but can weigh heavily on our shoulders. And what if we told you that...
Ever feel like there’s just never enough time in the day? You’re juggling client sessions, family responsibilities, and maybe even a little bit of a social life—if you’re lucky. And yet, somehow, taking care of yourself always falls to the bottom of the list. Sound familiar? In today’s episode, we’re breaking down the toxic time messages that keep us stuck in this endless cycle of overwhelm. We’re diving into how these hidden beliefs sneak into our everyday decisions and offer some practical ...
When was the last time you felt truly in control of your schedule? Or had a day when your to-do list didn’t just overflow with everyone else’s needs, leaving yours at the bottom? If self-care feels like just another item you’re not quite managing to cross off, you’re not alone – and that’s exactly why we created this podcast. In this first episode, we’re introducing a game-changing approach to self-care – one that’s tailored to the unique challenges of being a female therapist. We’ll be shari...
Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule
How many times have you said — or thought — ‘I’d love to take better care of myself, but I just don’t have the time’? Or, ‘I’m way too tired.’ Or maybe, ‘I can’t afford it right now.’ These are probably the three biggest roadblocks therapists and other caring professionals name when it comes to self-care: time, energy, and money. And we get it — those are real constraints. But here’s the thing: when we define self-care as something that requires extra time, energy, or money...