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Podcasts for therapists can be a valuable resource offering insights, strategies, and professional growth opportunities. For the longest time I did not understand podcasts. Listening to podcasts was never a part of my ‘to do’. Not until the time when my supervisor recommended “When Therapy Stalls” for a case I was having a tough time with. It is a beautiful podcast about feeling stuck in therapy. Not only was the content amazing, I started appreciating the format of podcasts as well. Suddenly they seemed like a convenient means to learn more.
When it comes to the top 10 podcasts for therapists, learning about therapy modalities or starting a private practice, the options are endless. To make it easier, we’ve curated a list of must-listen podcasts for therapists designed to support you on your journey as a therapist.
Clinical Learning
1. It’s Not Just in Your Head – Harriet Fraad and Max Golding
In this podcast, Harriet Fraad and Max Golding explores how capitalism and economic systems impact emotional well-being. While most psychology podcasts for therapists address personal pathology in their content, this podcast addresses systemic problems related to mental health, particularly focusing on economics, capitalism, insecurity, and social inequality.
The hosts of this podcast, take on the way that the economics of our system shapes emotional distress, and specifically, that establishment narratives around mental health are often skewed and misleading. The hosts explain psychological problems like anxiety, burnout, and depression are not simply individual and personal shortcomings, but rather are often tied directly to our ongoing anxiety associated with economic forces like job insecurity, student debt, and lack of access to affordable housing.
They feature interviews with experts, case studies, and conversations to convey the message of this supplement to mental health. This podcast can help professionals in therapy, sociology, activism, and anyone interested in economics to understand the deeper implications of economic systems on our mental health.
2. Where Should We Begin – Esther Perel
Esther Perel’s podcast Where Should We Begin? provides a fascinating and informative perspective into relationships, intimacy and emotional health. Each episode provides listeners to an actual therapy session, with couples or individuals, as Perel facilitates the exploration of complicated feelings and communication styles or relationship issues.
What makes the podcast different is Perel’s compassionate method to intertwine the theoretical concepts of psychology with authentic, vulnerable conversations about intimacy and human relationships, making otherwise difficult topics feel both approachable and thought provoking. Perel’s tone is warm and caring yet also matter of fact, that encourages you to reflect on your relationships, self-awareness, and personal growth.
The appeal of the podcast is not just the therapeutic aspect but how relevant and informative these discussions can be for you as a listener. Whether you are having relationship issues, or if you are in a life transition, or just want to learn more about relationships personally or as a whole, Where Should We Begin? will enlighten you on the complexities of intimacy, relationships, communication, and healing.
3. Dear Therapists – Lori Gottlieb & Guy Winch
Dear Therapists, is the podcast hosted by therapists – Lori Gottlieb (Maybe You Should Talk to Someone) and Guy Winch. It provides a window into actual therapy sessions, where listeners share their personal dilemmas, and the hosts offer knowledgeable advice in an organized, professional, and compassionate fashion. This podcast involves the hosts trying to solve real- time concerns of people. This is not just an advice show that offers brief tips to follow along with. The podcast is professionals and walks the listener through an entire therapeutic exercise, exploring feelings, thoughts, and next steps. The warmth of the hosts, in combination with the therapist format, makes the experience engaging and thought-provoking.
This podcast is apt for listeners who are interested in self-improvement, understanding relational differences, or who want to see just how therapy works. Through the features of storytelling, psychology, and practical advice, the podcast is engaging and enjoyable.
4. Shrink Rap Radio – Dr. David Van Nuys
Shrink Rap Radio is a podcast hosted by Dr. David Van Nuys, a psychologist with an interest in psychology and mental health topics. Each episode features in-depth interviews with a diverse range of experts, including therapists, researchers, neuroscientists, and authors, who discuss psychotherapy techniques, the science of emotions, new developments in neuroscience, dream analysis and even positive psychology principles, while providing professional perspective and actionable advice for daily contexts. There is something for mental health professionals and anyone interested in gaining a deeper understanding of the mind. Dr. Van Nuys has an engaging interview style and deftly blends deep theoretical psychology with relatable and real-world examples, while helping the listener to understand and connect complex ideas.
The podcast is a great resource for psychologists and those simply interested in personal development, as they can expect to learn how we think, learn how the human mind functions, and how to improve our mental well-being.
Griefcast is a unique podcast about grief and loss (hosted by the wonderful and talented comedian, Cariad Lloyd) that is candid and honest, and features guests who are mostly comedians. Grief is a heavy subject matter, but Griefcast fortunately balances these heavier discussions with silliness and humor, and creates a sense of lightheartedness, with regard to grief. The beauty of Griefcast, is (along with normalizing conversations about loss) it allows both Lloyd and her guests to candidly share their own experiences with loss.
The show invites a sense of warmth and honesty about loss, and lets the listener know that they are not alone. Griefcast is perfect for all grievers, because it invites comfort in what can be a feeling of shared suffering in the grieving experience, and reminds the listener it is also okay to also share laughter.
Private Practice Growth and Business
6. The Practice of the Practice – Joe Sanok
If you are a therapist who wants to begin or grow your own private practice, The Private Practice Startup Nation is a podcast for you! Similar to The Practice of the Practice, this one delves into the pieces you need when it comes to branding, marketing, financial pieces, and the elements needed to succeed long-term. Since the hosts are both savvy therapists who have “been there, done that,” they add in more educational content through expert interviews and real stories to help ease the uncertainty of owning a private practice. This podcast is a perfect fit for someone who is exploring the beginning possibility or journeying into private practice. You hear about how to find your niche, avoid common business mistakes, and if digital, how to attract clients.
No matter where you are on your journey, or if it’s time to take your practice up a notch, The Practice of the Practice offers ideas that can lead therapists to sustainable income so they can still do good work ethically and effectively. This is an excellent resource for mental health professionals who want to align their passion about helping others with the business of doing business successfully.
7. The Private Practice Startup Nation – Dr. Kate Campbell & Katie Lemieux
If you are a therapist who wants to begin or grow your own private practice, The Private Practice Startup Nation is a podcast for you! Similar to The Practice of the Practice, this one delves into the pieces you need when it comes to branding, marketing, financial pieces, and the elements needed to succeed long-term. Since the hosts are both savvy therapists who have “been there, done that,” they add in more educational content through expert interviews and real stories to help ease the uncertainty of owning a private practice. This podcast for therapists is a perfect fit for someone who is exploring the beginning possibility or journeying into private practice. You hear about how to find your niche, avoid common business mistakes, and if digital, how to attract clients.
So, if you’re a therapist ready to make the leap from agency work to private practice, The Private Practice Startup Nation is packed with valuable insights and practical advice to help you along the way. It’s an excellent resource for anyone looking to transform their clinical skills into a successful, sustainable business.
Personal Development
8. The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide – Curt Widhalm & Katie Vernoy
The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide is an excellent resource for mental health professionals in a time of change and uncertainty. It is hosted by Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy, two licensed marriage and family therapy professionals, and addresses matters of importance to practitioners, like burnout, ethics, self-care, and realities of being a business owner in the mental health space. Both new and more experienced therapists will find the show relevant to professional practice in some way, whether it is clinical or pragmatic.
They also report on several experts in the field, adding diversity to the content shared and to remain relevant to current practice.The Modern Therapist’s Survival Guide is more than just a podcast for therapist about clinical practice, but gives listeners the tools needed to navigate a career in therapy autonomously and long lasting, while giving listeners tools avoid burnout. It is the perfect resource for therapists looking to stay abreast of contemporary therapy practice as well as find an ethical way to practice, while still meeting the needs of clients.
9. The Bad Therapist – Ash Compton & Rachel Monroe
Brought to light by Ash Compton and Rachel Monroe, The Bad Therapist podcast captures the fun and humble reality of being a mental health professional. Therapy is messy and therapists aren’t perfect, but the podcast depicts the awkwardness to give listeners the genuine experience of what it’s like to practice therapy. Ash and Rachel share their personal stories, mess-ups, struggles, and engage with serious topics, including in-the-moment self-disclosure of having difficulty setting boundaries, containing strong feelings, or feeling conflicted because of a dual relationship or ethical issue, with humour.
The Bad Therapist podcast mixes serious topics with hilarious topics that challenge therapists while giving therapist and client perspectives in a light-hearted way. This podcast is for you if you are a therapist who wants to hear relatable examples from other therapists about their therapy practice or occupy the line of being a curious therapy client who is more interested in the human piece of the work than the therapy itself.
Parenting and Family Dynamics
10. Ask Lisa: The Psychology of Parenting – Dr. Lisa Damour & Reena Ninan
This podcast for therapists is a great tool for parents experiencing the social, behavioural and emotional challenges of parenting. Every episode of the show provides a detailed understanding of the relevant topics, for example – anxiety, behavioural issues, discipline, and working on strategies to build resilience. What makes this podcast special is the combination of in-depth research and useful practical information.
Dr. Damour does a brilliant job of simplifying complex psychological concepts and ideas into practical suggestions for parents. The topics she covers includes – adolescent mental health, screen time, academic stress, and much more. Dr. Damour present a practical, compassionate, and clinical approach. Dr. Lisa is perfect for parents, teachers, and caregivers looking for inspiring, practical parenting ideas to help raise emotionally and psychologically healthy children.
Conclusion
Podcasts for therapists are a whole different world – they offer an incredible way to stay informed, inspired, and up-skill as a therapist. Plus all those insights from therapists’ personal experiences normalise my hiccups in the therapy room as well. Another thing I love about podcast for therapists is that they are so convenient – you are sitting, walking, working out, or commuting – just plug in those headphones and you are ready to learn. As we continue growing in our practice, tools like Mentalyc can enhance our professional journey by simplifying therapy documentation and allowing us to focus more on client care. Just like how we are embracing the ease of learning through podcasts, we must leverage innovative resources like Mentalyc to make our work as therapists even more impactful.
