Ken Huey (00:14):
"Today's guest is Valerie Shinbaum, a seasoned psychotherapist with over 30 years of clinical experience and two decades in private practice. Valerie is a licensed professional counselor, master addictions counselor, and national certified counselor whose work spans individuals, couples, and family therapy. A frequent national conference speaker and published author, she brings deep insight into healing trauma, building self-worth, and navigating life's transitions. Valerie's compassionate yet direct approach has helped countless clients reclaim balance and purpose in their lives. Valerie, thank you so much for being with us."

Valerie Shinbaum (00:54):
"My pleasure, I'm really glad you asked. I'm happy to be here."

Ken Huey (00:57):
"Well, let's talk first a little bit about, you know, why, your why, what drew you to psychotherapy three decades plus ago?"

Valerie Shinbaum (01:06):
"Yeah, well, I think like many of us, we think, I think of myself as a wounded healer... I went to see several therapists in a row and they all told me the same thing and I didn't want to hear it. But anyway, I thought to myself, know, I should probably do this for a living and get paid."

Ken Huey (02:29):
"You still look back on graduate school with fondness and have a lot you take away from it. What has changed over the last 30 years?"

Valerie Shinbaum (02:37):
"Sadly, I will say that clinicians are not being trained to practice with confidence... I think some of the younger clinicians have a tendency to practice in fear..."

Ken Huey (03:06):
"How do you help a new therapist? What advice would you give to them to not be playing with that sort of hesitation?"

Valerie Shinbaum (06:11):
"Make sure that you're having supervision... go work in a school, go work in a prison, go work in a hospital, go work in a treatment facility."

Ken Huey (04:43):
"How do you hold someone accountable, without crossing boundaries?"

Valerie Shinbaum (04:44):
"It works. I get the time to ask questions, and I'm right in there and I'm probably going to mostly just sit in my chair and ask you questions."

Ken Huey (05:50):
"What advice would you give to clinicians that are hesitant or fearful?"

Valerie Shinbaum (06:11):
"Just establish your own little footnotes... make sure you have supervision. And if you're not working in a facility that offers supervision, go out and pay for it privately."

Ken Huey (10:52):
"You’ve been a radio show host. How has that experience impacted your work now?"

Valerie Shinbaum (08:38):
"I have had really good opportunities to get up in front of an audience and think about, speak about things that are passions of mine... 12-Step Recovery is my jam."

Ken Huey (13:58):
"Tell us more about your experience with 12-step recovery."

Valerie Shinbaum (14:04):
"I have three fellowships that I go to myself. At one time I attended four. If I ever need to go back to the fourth one, I'm the first one in line."

Ken Huey (18:49):
"What is your belief about building self-esteem?"

Valerie Shinbaum (16:40):
"Let's talk about the inner child. One of my favorite experiential exercises is non-dominant handwriting... It will tell me so much about what age we're this person is functioning at emotionally."

Ken Huey (21:01):
"What gives you hope in your work?"

Valerie Shinbaum (21:03):
"The world survived Attila the Hun. The world survived Emperor Nero. We're still here."