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In this episode of The Family Couch we chat with Dr. Robert Taibbi about the demystification of family therapy. Additionally, we take the time to look at the other side of the therapist couch to see how practices begin and discuss what methods may be best for choosing your career path as a therapist.
We discuss the different reasons how a family may end up in therapy. It can be a culmination of reasons, from parents treating a teenage like they are still six years old, miscommunications, or behavioral issues. Dr. Taibbi explains how homework from sessions can help families move forward with the issues they are experiencing. He stresses the importance of treating therapy (and the homework) like you do a workday – if you do not take it seriously, change will not occur.
In addition, we discuss the personal accountability that needs to be present with family therapy. Dr. Taibbi shares that when couples come to family therapy they are discussing the language of content – they want to get their story out to the world which causes them to get upset. With mindset requires a shift for change to occur, instead of wanting to be right a therapist works to help couples and families understand each other.
We then dive into how to determine what specialty a new therapist should focus on as they are embarking on their career and the idea what one person should identify a specialty. We debate the pros and cons of choosing a speciality as a therapist or staying a “jack of all trades” and what benefit or detriment this could have on your patients.
Dr. Taibbi gives the advice that you should pick a specialty that excites you, giving himself as an example: he chose family and couples therapy because the dynamic and fast paced nature fits his personality. Many people choose not to work with children because the trauma can be too sad for them to handle. Most importantly, you should follow you passion.
Lastly, we chat about the first few years of practice and the reality of burnout. Having a supervisor who supports you, understands the importance of training and walks you through the process is imperative for success in this industry. Dr. Taibbi explains the importance of understanding our power lies only in the time where we are talking with our client and taking on more than that will always be overwhelming.
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GUEST BIO:
Bob Taibbi is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 42 years experience, primarily in community mental health working with couples and families as a clinician, supervisor and clinical director.
He has also published over 300 magazine and journal articles, contributed several book chapters including the Encyclopedia of Couple & Family Therapy and Favorite Counseling Techniques: 55 Masters Share Their Secrets which cited him among the top 100 therapists in the country. He served as teen advice columnist for Current Health, a contributing editor to Your Health and Fitness, and has received 3 national writing awards for Best Consumer Health Writing.
Bob is a graduate of Rutgers University and the University of South Carolina, and has served as adjunct professor at several universities. He provides trainings nationally in couple therapy, family therapy, brief therapy, and clinical supervision, and is an expert contributor to the websites, Howtodate.com, World-wide continuing education and Marriage.com.
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CONNECT WITH DR. TAIBBI:
Website: http://bobtaibbi.com/
Books: http://bobtaibbi.com/page2/page2.html
Pyschology Today Column: https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/fixing-families
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Want to be on The Family Couch or know someone who would be a great guest? Email us at mercedes@shameproofparenting.com
