A Soul Care Plan for Therapists: The Personal Respite

July 25, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

Today, I’m giving you a process for how to take care of yourself any time you need a break from busyness or a way to combat burnout. I implemented this idea naturally, as a way to process a distressing event, when I was a young adult. And, I’ve come back to it again and again.

Originally, my respites were longer than 30 days--I remained in a respite until I felt ready to venture out once again. Eventually, 30 days became the length of my average respite. You may find that a weekend, or a one week respite is enough for you.

Why Therapists Need Mentors and Masterminds

July 18, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned as a therapist is the value of having ongoing support and direction. My need for support hasn't been exclusive to clinical work; it has also been relevant to my career, business, and personal development. I’ve sought advice, ideas, and counsel from mentors and masterminds along my professional path, and they’ve made a huge difference in my sense of confidence and career success.

Whether you are a student, employee, or business owner, you need what a mentor, or mastermind, can offer.

Therapist Self-Disclosure Simplified

June 27, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

Self-disclosure is a touchy subject among therapists. Some therapists never self-disclose, while others feel stifled by having a rigid boundary around self-disclosure. As I consider self-disclosure in therapy, I ask myself, “When is self-disclosure appropriate?” “How does self-disclosure deepen the therapist-client connection?"

The Simple Therapist Life: Tips for Tuning In

May 23, 2017 Ili Rivera Walter, PhD, LMFT

What do you imagine when you hear the word "simplicity"? I picture a minimalist home (uncluttered, not stark), sunshine, a warm-ish breeze flowing through clean, open windows, and myself reading in a comfy chair. Sounds dreamy, right?

But, it's not the visual components of my vision that are the most appealing, it's the sense, or experience, of that vision--the lack of urgency for anything other than being here, now.

What is your picture perfect simple life?