Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule
Self-care shouldn’t be another task on your to-do list! This is the show that helps you as a busy and dedicated female mental health therapist to redefine your approach to self-care. Because we need so much more than bubble baths and breathing exercises!
Hosted by Dr. Karen Dyck and Dr. Melissa Tiessen, clinical psychologists, founders of Intentional Therapist, and self-care advocates, our mission is to help you build a life where you thrive right alongside your clients, without guilt and without burning out. Join us as we explore practical strategies grounded in our 4 C’s model – Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity – to help you create more space for yourself while continuing to support your clients.
Whether you work in a solo private practice, within a large organization, are a new grad, or are nearing retirement, this show has something for you. Tune in for short but valuable episodes filled with relatable and insightful new perspectives, actionable ‘self-care experiments’, and the encouragement and permission you need to put more of you back in your schedule and create a life from which you don’t need to escape.
To learn more about Intentional Therapist and our 4 C’s model of self-care, visit us at: www.intentionaltherapist.ca
[Please note: This podcast was previously called Thrivival 101, and you can continue to find our original interview episodes in this podcast feed.]
Intentional Therapist: Putting You In Your Schedule
E16: Check-in on your self-care along with us! The importance of seasonal self-care check-ins
What if your to-do list isn’t the problem — but rather a quiet signal that one of your self-care pillars is out of balance? As therapists, we’re trained to notice these signs in others, but we often overlook the gentle nudges from within: things like a creeping sense of resentment, a loss of joy, or a growing disconnection from the parts of ourselves that used to feel vibrant. As we kick off a new season of Putting You In Your Schedule, we’re inviting you to slow down with us and take stock — not with judgment, but with curiosity and compassion.
In this episode, we’ll walk you through a seasonal self-care check-in using our 4 C’s framework: Connection, Compassion, Courage, and Creativity. Whether or not you’ve used our self-care assessment tool before, we’ll help you pause to notice what’s working, what’s not, and where there’s room for small but meaningful shifts. Let’s begin this season with intention around the foundation that supports everything else — our own well-being.
Episode Highlights:
- A refresher on the 4 C's model
- The 4 C's self-care assessment
- Signs that we might need to pay attention to each of our 4 C's
Self-Care Experiments:
- Assess your self-care needs in this specific season
- Share your self-care assessment with a trusted colleague or loved one
- Take some baby steps
Resources Mentioned:
- Visit our website to get your own copy of our FREE 4 C's Self-Care Assessment: https://www.intentionaltherapist.ca
Registration is now open for Thrivival Skills for Therapists, with your choice of formats! More info at the links below and special early bird savings until September 22, 2025:
Option 1: Fall 2025 Cohort *Save $100 with code: PYIYS100
Option 2: Independent Study *Save $50 with code: PYIYS50
Connect with Melissa & Karen at Intentional Therapist:
intentional@intentionaltherapist.ca
https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmelissatiessen/
Share one of your own self-care experiments via our SpeakPipe page at: https://www.speakpipe.com/intentionaltherapist
Disclaimer: This podcast seeks to be educational in purpose and is not to be used as clinical advice. Please connect with a therapist one-on-one for personalized support.
