The Unmasked Therapist Podcast

Episode 29: Motherhood, Mental Health, and the Therapist Identity

In this episode of The Unmasked Therapist Podcast, Clinical Supervisors Kim Rippy, LPC [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kim-rippy/], and Kaitlyn Steel, LMFT [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kaitlyn-steel/], take a step away from their therapist identity development series to have an honest conversation about maternal mental health, motherhood, and the realities of showing up as both therapists and parents. Drawing from both personal and professional experience, Kim and Kaitlyn explore how becoming a mother fundamentally shifts identity, perspective, values, and clinical work. They discuss the emotional, relational, and biological changes that come with parenthood, while also acknowledging the unique pressures therapists face when balancing caregiving, supervision, licensure, burnout, and client care. The conversation highlights the importance of slowing down, accepting help, building community, and giving yourself permission to not “do it all.” Kim and Kaitlyn also discuss postpartum depression, anxiety, and rage, the importance of safety planning and support systems, and why therapists are not immune to the very struggles they help clients navigate every day. Throughout the episode, they encourage clinicians, supervisees, and parents alike to approach themselves with more realism, humility, and compassion during major life transitions. In this episode, we discuss: • How motherhood impacts therapist identity and clinical work • The emotional and biological shifts that happen during parenthood • Navigating residency, supervision, and burnout while parenting • Why therapists are not immune to postpartum struggles • Postpartum depression, anxiety, and rage • The importance of community, support systems, and asking for help • Giving yourself permission to slow down and do less • Integrating personal growth and life transitions into authentic clinical practice Connect with us: Supervision: www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/ [http://www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/] Instagram: @TheUnmaskedTherapist Email: Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com [Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com] If this episode resonated with you, leave a five-star review and subscribe for more conversations about authentic, grounded, human-centered therapy. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical supervision. All information shared represents our own opinions and should not be taken as legal or clinical direction. #TheUnmaskedTherapist #UnmaskedTherapist #TherapistPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #MaternalMentalHealth #PostpartumMentalHealth #TherapistMom #ClinicalSupervision

Episode 28: Understanding the “Why” Behind Your Clinical Work

In this episode of The Unmasked Therapist Podcast, Clinical Supervisors Kim Rippy, LPC [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kim-rippy/], and Kaitlyn Steel, LMFT [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kim-rippy/] continue their series on therapist identity development by moving from “What is my model?” into the next critical step: understanding how to actually use it in practice. Building on the previous conversation about exploring and “dating” different therapeutic models, this episode clarifies the distinction between theory and model—and why that difference matters for clinical work. Kim and Caitlin break down how a therapist’s theory reflects the “why” behind their work, while models represent the more structured “how,” including specific interventions, steps, and frameworks used in session. They explore why early clinicians often get stuck in skills-based work without understanding the underlying theory, and how this can limit depth, flexibility, and clinical confidence. Through relatable examples and supervision insights, they highlight how moving from intervention-driven therapy to theory-informed practice helps clinicians make more intentional, effective decisions in the room. The conversation also begins to unpack the role of imposter syndrome in therapist development, reframing it as a normal part of learning new models rather than a sign of incompetence. Kim and Caitlin emphasize how curiosity, supervision, and reflection help clinicians stay grounded as they experiment with new approaches. This episode invites therapists to slow down, stay curious, and begin integrating both theory and model in a way that supports authentic, flexible, and intentional clinical work. In this episode, we discuss:• The difference between theory and model in psychotherapy• Why theory represents the “why” and model represents the “how”• How clinicians get stuck in skills-based thinking• Why understanding theory improves intervention choice and depth• The role of supervision in developing clinical conceptualization• How imposter syndrome shows up when learning new models• Why doubt doesn’t always mean you’re doing something wrong• Moving toward more intentional, theory-informed practice Connect with us: Supervision: www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/ [http://www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/] Instagram: @TheUnmaskedTherapist Email: Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com If this episode resonated with you, leave a five-star review and subscribe for more conversations about authentic, grounded, human-centered therapy. Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical supervision. All information shared represents our own opinions and should not be taken as legal or clinical direction. #TheUnmaskedTherapist #UnmaskedTherapist #TherapistPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapistConversations

Episode 27: How to Discover Your Theoretical Orientation

In this episode of The Unmasked Therapist Podcast, Clinical Supervisors ⁠⁠Kim Rippy [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kim-rippy/]⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Kaitlyn Steel⁠⁠ [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kaitlyn-steel/]continue their series on therapist identity development by exploring one of the biggest questions early clinicians face: “What is my model?” Rather than encouraging therapists to rush into choosing a theoretical orientation based on popularity, supervision expectations, or graduate school pressure, Kim and Kaitlyn unpack how a therapist’s model often develops through deeper self-awareness, lived experience, and clinical curiosity. They discuss how understanding your own values, emotional responses, relational patterns, and clinical instincts can guide you toward approaches that genuinely align with who you are as a therapist. Through conversations about EFT, CBT, trauma work, attachment, supervision, and the process of “dating” different therapeutic models, this episode examines how clinicians can begin identifying the theories and interventions that feel authentic rather than performative. Kim and Kaitlyn also explore the importance of hypothesis-building, clinical curiosity, and using supervision as a space to intentionally reflect on what naturally stands out to you in the therapy room. This episode invites therapists to move away from trying to force themselves into a model and instead begin discovering the approaches that already reflect how they naturally conceptualize and connect with clients. In this episode, we discuss: • Why many early clinicians feel pressure to “pick a model” • How therapist identity influences theoretical orientation • The difference between learning skills and developing clinical authenticity • Why self-awareness helps therapists recognize aligned approaches • How attachment, values, trauma, and relationships shape conceptualization • The process of exploring and “dating” therapeutic models • Using curiosity and supervision to clarify your clinical direction • Why confidence grows when interventions align with who you are as a therapist Connect with us: Supervision: ⁠www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/⁠ Instagram: @TheUnmaskedTherapist Email: ⁠Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com [Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com]⁠ If this episode resonated with you, leave a five-star review and subscribe for more conversations about authentic, grounded, human-centered therapy. Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical supervision. All information shared represents our own opinions and should not be taken as legal or clinical direction. #TheUnmaskedTherapist #UnmaskedTherapist #TherapistPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapistConversations

Episode: 26: Finding your Therapist Identity

In this episode of The Unmasked Therapist Podcast, Clinical Supervisors ⁠Kim Rippy⁠ [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kim-rippy/]and ⁠Kaitlyn Steel⁠ [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kaitlyn-steel/] introduce the first part of a new series focused on one of the most underdeveloped but essential aspects of becoming a clinician: developing your therapist identity. They explore the “person of the therapist” model and why supervision in the early stages of training often overemphasizes skills while leaving little room for deeper reflection on who the therapist actually is. Kim and Kaitlyn discuss how understanding yourself as a person—your values, emotional patterns, life experiences, and internal world—directly shapes how you show up in the therapy room. Through honest reflection and real clinical insight, they unpack the idea that therapists cannot separate personal growth from professional development. They also discuss how experiential awareness, supervision, and self-reflection help clinicians move beyond scripted interventions and into more grounded, authentic clinical presence. This episode sets the foundation for the series by inviting therapists to begin examining how their own lived experience informs their work, and why this integration is key to long-term clinical effectiveness and sustainability. In this episode, we discuss:• What the “person of the therapist” model is in clinical supervision• Why therapist identity development is often missing in early training• The limits of skill-based supervision without self-reflection• How personal experience shapes clinical perception and intervention• The connection between therapist authenticity and nervous system regulation• Why ongoing self-awareness is essential for effective therapy• How experiential understanding deepens clinical work Connect with us:Supervision: www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/ [http://www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/]Instagram: @TheUnmaskedTherapistEmail: Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com If this episode resonated with you, leave a five-star review and subscribe for more conversations about authentic, grounded, human-centered therapy. Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical supervision. All information shared represents our own opinions and should not be taken as legal or clinical direction. #TheUnmaskedTherapist #UnmaskedTherapist #TherapistPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapistConversations

Episode 25: Attachment, DBR, and Clinical Insight

In this episode of the Unmasked Therapist Podcast, ⁠Kaitlyn Steel, LMFT [https://keystonetherapygroup.com/kaitlyn-steel/]⁠, continues her conversation with Michelle Vaughn, LPC—practice owner of Truth and Grace Counseling in Arizona—for part two of this two-part series. Picking up where they left off, Kaitlyn and Michelle dive deeper into Michelle’s clinical work, with a focus on trauma and the modalities that shape her approach. Michelle shares how working from an attachment-focused lens informs her understanding of clients, emphasizing the importance of looking beyond presenting symptoms to uncover the deeper roots of distress. The conversation explores the integration of EMDR and Michelle’s growing use of Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR), a newer trauma modality that works at a lower level of brain processing. Michelle explains how DBR can be especially helpful for clients with complex trauma or dissociative tendencies, offering a slower, more accessible way to process experiences without becoming overwhelmed. As the episode continues, the discussion shifts into the importance of consultation and community in clinical work. Kaitlyn and Michelle highlight how seeking support from other clinicians can expand perspective, improve client care, and introduce therapists to new approaches they may not have otherwise considered. The final portion of the conversation focuses on Michelle’s journey as a supervisor and private practice owner. She shares insights on building a practice rooted in autonomy, flexibility, and client-centered values, while also encouraging early career clinicians to think intentionally about their own needs, boundaries, and long-term sustainability in the field. Grounded in both clinical insight and real-world experience, this episode offers a thoughtful look at trauma work, professional growth, and what it means to show up authentically—not just for clients, but for yourself as a therapist. In this episode, we discuss:• Using an attachment-focused lens in trauma work• How EMDR and Deep Brain Reorienting (DBR) are used in practice• Working with complex trauma and dissociation• The importance of consultation and building a professional network• Lessons from supervision and transitioning into private practice• Balancing clinician needs with client care This is part two of a two-part conversation. Be sure to check out last week’s episode for the beginning of this discussion. Connect with us:Supervision: ⁠www.keystonetherapygroup.com/supervision/⁠Instagram: @TheUnmaskedTherapistEmail: ⁠⁠Supervision@KeystoneTherapyGroup.com⁠⁠ If this episode resonated with you, leave a five-star review and subscribe for more conversations about authentic, grounded, human-centered therapy. Disclaimer:This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for clinical supervision. All information shared represents our own opinions and should not be taken as legal or clinical direction. #TheUnmaskedTherapist #UnmaskedTherapist #TherapistPodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #TherapistConversations