In this episode, Miranda is joined by Erin Stevens, LPC-S from New Orleans, for a conversation about a powerful and creative idea that emerged during the height of the pandemic: a virtual book club for clients. Erin shares how she launched the group, the logistics behind keeping it running, and how reading books like The Body Keeps the Score helped participants process trauma and build meaningful connections.

They dive into the practical considerations—like navigating confidentiality, managing group dynamics, and knowing when and how to bring a group to a close. Erin also reflects on how something as simple as a shared story can become a therapeutic tool. If you're a therapist looking for new ways to foster community and healing, this episode offers thoughtful inspiration.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:27 The Concept of a Therapy Book Club

02:20 First Book and Group Dynamics

05:07 Challenges and Logistics

12:04 Ending the Group and Reflections

14:15 Future Plans and Advice

22:33 Conclusion and Call to Action

The Therapist Thrival Guide is a podcast by Ellie Mental Health. We want to move therapists beyond surviving and into the realm of thriving by covering all the things that graduate school didn't teach you! This mental health podcast is hosted by Miranda Barker, LICSW and a rotating cast of seasoned therapists. Each episode features a therapist speaking to their areas of expertise to help us learn how to thrive as therapists.⁠⁠

Miranda Barker⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, MSW, LICSW, has been practicing as a therapist for over three years. She previously worked as a child protection investigator, adoption social worker, and case manager. She's new to the therapy game and loves soaking up all of the knowledge from the expert therapists in her life. She's currently the Director of Content and Production at Ellie Mental Health's in-house creative agency and believes that creativity is an important aspect of mental health care.

The Therapist Thrival Guide is one of many creative productions from ⁠Ellie Mental Health⁠. Ellie is a national mental health brand organized around community-based outpatient mental health clinics. It all began with a single office in St. Paul, Minnesota back in 2015, and since then has expanded to over 24 clinics in Minnesota and an explosive number of locations nationwide after franchising our model in 2021. Ellie will be opening over 500 locations in communities nationwide with new clinics opening each week. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#therapy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠