Through The Eyes Of A Therapist

Do you wonder what therapists who are self-employed do for a living? How do we make ends meet? How do we make our ideas come to fruition?   In this episode I speak with two other therap-preneurs, Ashlei Lien, LMFT and Dr. Cristina Bautista, who have several business ventures that we call “side hustles”.  These folx are BUSAYYY with kids, travel, writing books, teaching fitness classes, and running startups.   We talk about mindset, goal setting, money and time management, self-care, and confidence.   More about today’s guests: Ashlei Lien https://ashleilien.wixsite.com/website/about   Dr. Cristina Bautista https://drcristinabautistapsyd.com   https://Spanishforprofessionalsinstitute.com   https://ayudaparatodoshelpforeveryone.com

For those of you who are interested or curious about the PhD track in therapy, here are two of my colleagues talking about their experiences in higher education. Viridiana Sigala and Federico Mendez discuss balancing personal and work life, first generation student struggles, bilingualism, marginalization, biculturalism, and more.   My new Patreon—> https://www.patreon.com/Therapistcristal   Here’s more about today’s guests:   Federico Mendez, (he/him), is a cisgendered, Hispanic, gay, male who is a bilingual (English/Spanish) therapist in North Richland Hills, TX. He sees individuals, couples/marriage and families struggling with anxiety, PTSD, trauma, marital issues, sexuality, and overall relationship issues. He has his own private practice, Intimacy Counseling & Consulting, serving clients online throughout the State of Texas or in-person in the Fort Worth, TX areas. He is also the Director of Veteran Mental Health Services at a local non-profit providing therapy to Veterans and their families. Federi

Get your cafecito because this is gonna be juicy!  Cristal asks 3 therapists who are in the dating scene what it’s like out there looking for love. She speaks with Ashley, Zamanda, and Carmen, three therapists who are at different stages of companionship seeking. Dating apps, running into clients, attachment styles, and queer love are discussed. Cristal’s marriage tips/perspectives are included!    Here’s more about today’s guests:   Ashley Zayas, LCSW (they/xe) has been a therapist for 9 years and founded their private practice in 2020. Xe works primarily with BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ adults who experience a range of things such as depression, anxiety, and trauma from a decolonial and anti-oppressive lens. They are licensed in New York and New Jersey, for more information, visit www.bipocrestorativetherapylcsw.com Zamanda Martinez Is a bilingual therapist in Arlington, TX. She sees adolescents and adults struggling with grief & loss, anxiety, depression and trauma. As a proud first generation American coming f

Brenda Risch, PhD, LCSW and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, CCTP, continue the conversation about the bigger picture related to gender affirming care in Texas.  With recent opinions from the Texas Governor and Attorney General saying that this type of care should be reported to DFPS, the implications are far reaching.     We hope that this two part series has provided sound evidence that gender affirming care seeking families and caregivers should not be reported to DFPS. Please continue to utilize the resources available to you (such as the Borderland Rainbow Center) for cutting edge training on these topics. Study your laws, ethics, and best practices.   To continue the support of our local trans-affirming haven, I will be hosting a giveaway on instagram! So please visit my page https://instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapistpod for details!   Thank you again to Dr.Risch for her time and energy.   And to my audience, I appreciate your willingness to listen to our points of view on these two episodes! Please vi

In this two part series, 2 therapists explore what is happening in Texas with Governor Greg Abbott and Trans Youth.  In a recent upheaval on the Texas Capitol, Texas Governor and Texas Attorney General stated their opinion that offering trans affirming care should be considered child abuse and that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services (AKA, CPS) should investigate those who are allowing the trans youth in their care to access and receive these services.   This obviously caused panic and trauma amongst the trans community–their caregivers and providers who protect and serve them.   Implications of denying this care stretch far and deep.   Let’s discuss!   And if you want to make a quick and meaningful difference please visit www.borderlandrainbow.org and click DONATE to securely donate through PayPal.

Marilyn F. Corbin-Burdick, LPC and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, CCTP (both Borderland, Latine Therapists) FINALLY saw Encanto and FINALLY discussed it on the podcast.  Themes about intergenerational trauma, shared language with clients, representation in media, and miraculous happy endings (thanks Disney) are SQUEEZED into a 30 minute episode.     Let us know what you want to hear more about by giving me feedback on www.instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapistpod

Elisa D. LCSW and Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, friends and colleagues, are back together on this episode to have a chat about what makes them happy.  Joy is an important part of self-care and replenishing the “therapist self”.  Listen in as they talk about video games, Paw Patrol, and Seinfeld.   Tell us what makes you happy on Instagram https://instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapistpod   *This podcast is not therapy. This podcast is not a substitute for any advice from a medical professional.   Visit www.clarityelpaso.com for therapy services in Texas.  

What are the hazards of being a counselor? Loneliness, existential dread, and VT of course! In this episode, Cristal shares a few reasons why a therapist would choose to see their own counselor…aside from occupational hazards!   Mentioned in this episode: HTTPS://www.sondermind.com   Latinxtherapy https://latinxtherapy.com/find-a-therapist/   Clinicians of Color: https://www.cliniciansofcolor.org/find-a-therapist/   Therapy in Color https://www.therapyincolor.org   www.psychologytoday.com  

Cristal answers listener questions she curated from her IG, FB, and Gmail.  Listen to a therapist’s thoughts on sitting all day, listening to people’s problems, how to shop around for your own therapist, and more!   *This podcast is not therapy*   If you have any questions, reach out on @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod • Instagram photos and videos  

How do you respond in highly stressful situations? Are you a fighter? How about a runner? A freezer? Is the person you’re dealing with such a threat that you need to keep them happy or stay in their good graces with the “fawning” response? In this episode I talk about the four main survival responses and how they show up in life-or-death situations as well as in daily life.    Visit me on Instagram www.Instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapistpod   Book for therapy Www.clarityelpaso.com    More https://linktr.ee/Cristalacosta   *This podcast is not counseling. Information from this podcast has been derived from my understanding of information based on counseling practice and research.    Disclaimer: Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, CCTP, her associates and subsidiaries are not liable for direct, indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or other damages arising out of any individual’s use of, reference to, reliance on, or inability to use this podcast or the information presented here. Information f

In this episode, Dr. Kate Walker, counselor educator, and myself discuss what it’s like to mess up! It’s ok because everyone makes mistakes and nobody is perfect! Especially therapists! We are absolutely not perfect and have our own baggage; BUT we are held to a high standard of care (laws and ethics) that requires us to bravely confront these mistakes with our clients and each other.  Dr. Kate and I talk about vulnerability, not having sex with clients, and much more!   www.katewalkertraining.com

Did you know there are several types of boundaries? Sexual, physical, emotional, financial, and more! In this episode psychiatrist Dr. Gaiathry Jeyarajan, author of children’s book “Ella’s Choice” talks about how to teach babies and kids about consent and boundaries. Teaching our littles about how to say “no” and how to give “permission” starts at a very young age and with everyday activities like diaper changes and feeding!     Go to https://instagram.com/throughtheeyesofatherapistpod for the Holiday 2021 book giveaway details!   Mentioned in the episode: To order your own copy go to Amazon Ella's Choice: Jeyarajan, Dr. Gaiathry: 9780228838982   https://instagram.com/lifeofashrink  

The interesting thing about being one of the 10% Latinx therapists in the U.S. is all of the UNLEARNING we had to do.  Luis Cornejo, LMFT and I talk about our “Lessons Learned” as therapists. (5.5% of therapists are fully bilingual BTW according to the APA.) Here’s some data about the gap that exists for mental health care for Spanish speaking Americans.   TBH, when before recording the episode, I thought it was going to be a straightforward sort of interview with questions like “what have you learned from your clients?” or “what are the hardest lessons you had to wrestle with as a growing therapist?”.  As the conversation unfolded, I quickly came to understand that our identities as Latinxs will ALWAYS color our experiences as professionals. Our therapist identities and cultural identities are inextricably tied…so much so, we can’t even have a philosophical or theoretical conversation without the ideas of marginalization, white supremacy, oppression, and Latinidad being infused into it. It’s not a bad thin

What is a highly sensitive therapist? Well, firstly what is a highly sensitive person?  Are we empaths? Introverts? Do we have special powers?     In this interview with April Snow, LMFT, we have a candid and informative convo about what it’s like inside of a HST (Highly Sensitive Therapist’s) brain. Yep, it’s different in here.   Mentioned in the episode: www.instagram.com/sensitivetherapist www.aprilsnowconsulting.com https://hsperson.com/test/highly-sensitive-test/   Correction: the book about introverts I mentioned is actually called the Introvert Advantage” https://www.amazon.com/Introvert-Advantage-People-Thrive-Extrovert-ebook/dp/B006VUIDIY

Can you tell the difference if a therapist is truly providing trauma-informed services or if they are merely providing trauma-focused care?  In this episode, I explain the difference between the two concepts.  I also provide a list of questions to ask providers to ensure they are actually “trauma-informed”. Mentioned in the episode: https://ncsacw.samhsa.gov/userfiles/files/SAMHSA_Trauma.pdf   Register for the upcoming training I’ll be giving at https://tsp2021.Eventbrite.com You can also drop me an email if you are interested in booking me for trauma-informed training or consultation at cristal@clarityelpaso.com

In this episode my guest, Marilyn Corbin-Burdick, Licensed Professional Counselor, and I discuss how horror films and stories are much like the therapeutic process.  We talk about folklore--stories passed down from previous generations, and why they are important to consider when thinking about dealing with our own traumas and mental illness.  We also discuss Stephen King novels and how insightful they actually are.   I personally really dislike horror films, especially the gory ones...but now after this interview, I might look at them more analytically.  Thank you Marilyn! Reach out to me on Instagram @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod and please review on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Cristal Acosta, Licensed Professional Counselor, speaks with some of her colleagues who also happen to be a part of the new-mom club.     In the first segment, Bianca Balderrama, LPC, talks about her experience giving birth in the middle of the pandemic, perinatal and post-partum anxiety/depression, as well as the grief and loss she and many women felt due to the missed experiences the pandemic caused.   In the second segment, another LPC, Monica Garfias talks about her experiences with having a medically fragile baby to care for in the middle of a pandemic, & how she balances work and personal life. Here are the support groups she mentions for parents of kids eight special needs: Trach babies- https://www.facebook.com/groups/momsoftrachbabies/?ref=share G-tube babies- https://www.facebook.com/groups/502557586477084/?ref=share Reach out to me on Instagram- @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod and please review on Apple Podcasts!

Today, Cristal Acosta, LPC-S, NCC, speaks with Elisa D, LCSW about what the hell even happened to all of us in 2020 and 2021.  The series of unfortunate events that occurred over the last two years has taken a toll on not only our clients, but on therapists everywhere! We discuss what two therapists could have possibly been up to for the last year and a half.   Reach out to me on Instagram @throughtheeyesofatherapistpod and please review on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode I am an open book about my personal journey into why I decided to go into private practice after 10 years of working for other agencies.  Even though I had a steady income, I knew I had to follow my dreams! (Here’s my referral code for SimplePractice.  You’ll get a free 30 day trial and a $50 subscription credit after you sign up for a paid account. https://www.simplepractice.com/?p=0ad0f07362) The Realization- Here I talk about how I knew (a long time ago) that private practice was the ultimate goal!   The Leap or the Push?-How I knew it was time for me to go into private practice.   The Logistics: Visit a local Small Business Development Center Go to https://sos.state.tx.us Choose and register your business structure and name Pay the fees and read the instructions Find and consult with a great accountant (mine is Adriana Alamo from Dallas, TX solutions.alamofinancial@gmail.com) Ask yourself if you want to take insurance. Find out which insurances are most used in your area Go t

The personal is political and the political is personal.  Mental health is both personal and political! It's about viewing the person as a whole within a larger system.  My guest today really, really gets this. Lawyer and mayoral candidate, Veronica Carbajal, is a guest on today's episode to talk about her views on politics and mental health.  If you are an El Pasoan, this episode provides a window into our city politics.  We talk about #BLM, the City's COVID-19 response, gentrification, and Vero's plan on changing the City's governmental landscape.  Get ready for some truth bombs #realtalk #therealdeal! More about today's guest: From www.veroformayor.com "Verónica Carbajal is a progressive running a grassroots campaign to become the first Latina Mayor of El Paso, Texas. Vero is a Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. lawyer and an advocate for the people, who has devoted her life to social justice, particularly, environmental justice, fair and affordable housing, disaster assistance, historic and cultural pre