MACC: Inside the Session

Dr. Cat Araya, Curriculum Lead Specialist at the IFS Institute, goes Inside the Session for an accessible introduction to Internal Family Systems (IFS), a therapeutic model that views the mind as naturally made up of different “parts.” In conversation with hosts Drs. Jason Branch and Dr. Cheryl Fisher, Dr. Araya explains how IFS helps clients understand these parts through consent, curiosity, and self...

Recorded during Mental Health Awareness Month, this episode of Inside the Session features Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher in conversation with MACC colleague Dr. Kristen Curry, a longtime community mental health practitioner, counselor educator, and Alliant alumna. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Curry candidly explores the realities of burnout, compassion fatigue, and working within increasingly strained me...

In time for Pride Month, this episode of Inside the Session features Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher leading a deeply personal and educational conversation with Drs. Elizabeth Watters and Winter Wiorkowski on LGBTQIA2S+ identity, advocacy, and affirming mental health care. Through candid storytelling and clinical insight, the guests unpack key concepts including gender identity, nonbinary experiences, pronouns, asexuality, poly...

Inside the Session returns with Drs. Jason Branch and Cheryl Fisher inviting fellow Alliant MACC faculty member Dr. Ashley Diaz for a compelling discussion on social justice in mental health, centered on the idea of “cultural wealth”: the strengths, traditions, and lived experiences clients bring into the therapeutic space. Drawing from her experiences as a Latina counselor educator, Dr. D...

Dr. Jason Branch and Dr. Cheryl Fisher delve into the complexities of trauma and its far-reaching effects on individuals and communities in this episode of Inside the Session. They explore the definitions of trauma, the impact of the pandemic as a collective trauma, and the concept of intergenerational trauma. Through engaging analogies, such as the house and the backpack, they illustrate how trauma manifests in ...

Drs. Cheryl Fisher and Jason Branch take you Inside the Session with fellow Alliant MACC faculty members Dr. Donnette Deigh and Samantha Guber. Together, they explore the intersection of mental health, social media, and technology, featuring insights from mental health professionals on the impact of social media on mental health, the role of AI, and practical strategies for managing technology use. The conversati...

In this inaugural episode of Inside the Session, hosts Dr. Jason Branch and Dr. Cheryl Fisher introduce themselves and their vision for the show, which aims to explore the intersection of current events and the counseling profession. They discuss the importance of authenticity, vulnerability, and the human experience in counseling, while also addressing the challenges counselors face today. The conversation delves into their person...