In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, host Dr. Tara Sanderson sits down with guest Matthew Verrette, a registered social worker and psychotherapist from Ontario, Canada, whose work seamlessly blends structured cognitive behavioral therapy with the creative world of geek and gaming therapy. Together, they explore how tabletop role-playing games and other forms of media can be intentionally integrated into therapy to enhance engagement and social skills, especially for clients with anxiety and depression. The conversation dives into the importance of "therapy first" when using gaming in practice, the value of supervision in helping new therapists find their own style, and the potential of movies, TV shows, and video games in exposure therapy. Throughout, Dr. Tara Sanderson and Matthew Verrette share their personal geeky passions, reflect on boundaries and use of self in therapeutic relationships, and offer practical advice for therapists and supervisors interested in weaving pop culture and play into their clinical work.

In this episode of Supervision Smörgåsbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson chats with Maria Laquerre Diego, a licensed marriage and family therapist known for weaving geek and pop culture into mental health supervision and practice. Together, they explore the power of embracing one's authentic, nerdy self as both a clinician and supervisor, highlighting the value of using pop culture references—like Disney, Star Wars, and superhero stories—to build rapport, create shared language, and break down barriers with both clients and supervisees. Maria Lacare Diego shares creative supervision tools, such as the Infinity Stone intervention and reframing villains’ strengths, encouraging professionals to infuse fun and imagination into therapeutic work. The conversation is lively and thoughtful, offering concrete strategies for promoting authenticity, connection, and creativity in the mental health field.

In this episode of Supervision Smorgasbord, Dr. Tara Sanderson dives into the concept of parallel process in supervision. She explains how supervisors can unintentionally mirror the emotional dynamics between their supervisees and their clients, experiencing unexpected feelings like exhaustion or anger. By naming and addressing these emotions through a relational check-in—the episode's “signature move”—Dr. Tara Sanderson offers actionable strategies for depersonalizing tension and fostering more effective, grounded supervision. She also highlights tools from the Supervision Smart Journal to help supervisors build resilience and navigate the "ghosts in the room," making supervision a deeper, more attuned process.