Practical for Your Practice

The world feels a bit cray-cray right now and your hosts are feeling fatigued, on edge, and crispy. We took a moment to ask, “how are you really doing?”, and didn’t allow each other to answer “fine.” It’s a challenge for many of us in the helping professions to acknowledge our own distress, make time for self-care, and accept help from others. On this episode, we practice what we preach by acknowledging how stress is affecting our personal and professional lives. We explore what gets in the way of good self-care and how we’ve tried to be authentically and imperfectly present with ourselves, each other, and the people we help.

In this episode of Practical for Your Practice, hosts Jenna Ermold and Carin Lefkowitz sit down with Dr. Randy Martin, Clinical Director of the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for the New York Presbyterian Hospital System. Despite being a fixture in most large organizations, EAPs often remain "under the radar" for many behavioral health providers. Dr. Martin demystifies the "ABC of EAPs," explaining how these programs serve as the "mental health equivalent of a primary care physician" by providing short-term counseling, assessment, and organizational support.
The conversation explores the parallels between EAP work and military mental health, the importance of proactive outreach during life transitions, and how providers can partner with EAPs to expand their own practices.
Dr. Randy Martin is a highly accomplished licensed psychologist and Clinical Director of the New York Presbyterian Hospital System’s Employee Assistance Program. As a dynamic thought leader, executive, and training specialist, he has impacted the productivity and profitability of Fortune 1000 companies, educational institutions, and healthcare systems through psychoeducational webinars, seminars, and on-site crisis management interventions. A frequent media contributor seen on CNN Radio and in the Wall Street Journal, Randy is a recognized expert in short-term counseling, assessment, and organizational wellness. His career is defined by a passion for mentoring professionals and improving client well-being, earning him the Caron Foundation’s EAP Award.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Employee Assistance Professionals Association (EAPA): Link to EAPA Website

Calls-to-action:
Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
Submit your comments or questions on our social media pages or via https://www.speakpipe.com/cdpp4p
Subscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email

In this episode, hosts Jenna Ermold and Carin Lefkowitz welcome Adrienne Griffen, an "accidental advocate" and Executive Director of the Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA). A Naval Academy graduate and former intelligence officer, Adrienne shares her powerful personal journey of navigating postpartum depression while holding high-level security clearances – and why it took six months to finally get the help she needed.
The conversation dives deep into the unique "triple threat" of stigma facing military women: the pressure of the warrior ethos, the upheaval of the military lifestyle, and the vulnerabilities of the perinatal period. Adrienne adds to our collection of EBP “sins” and provides practical actionable intel and valuable resources. Whether you are a civilian or military provider, this episode offers a roadmap for moving beyond "baby blues" to provide comprehensive, life-saving support for military-connected families.

Adrienne Griffen, MPP, is an advocate and nationally-recognized expert in the field of maternal mental health. She is a sought-after speaker and educator, using her lived experience to engage audiences on issues surrounding the mental health and wellbeing of our nation’s mothers.
Adrienne is the Executive Director of Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (mmhla.org), a nonprofit organization leading efforts to improve maternal mental health in the United States. She graduated from the United States Naval Academy and has a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: 1-833-TLC-MAMA (24/7 voice and text support in English and Spanish).
Postpartum Support International (PSI): postpartum.net – Includes specialized support groups for military families.
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA): mmhla.org – Advocacy and policy for maternal mental health.

Calls-to-action:
Review the information provided on mmhla.org especially the MOMs Act
Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
Submit your comments or questions on our social media pages or via Speakpipe
Subscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is common, disabling and frequently misunderstood in clinical practice. In this episode of Practical for Your Practice, hosts Dr. Jenna Ermold and Kevin Holloway are joined by Dr. Elizabeth McIngvale and Dr. Lauren Wadsworth, two nationally recognized leaders in OCD treatment and training, for a deep dive into Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), the gold-standard treatment for OCD.
Together, they unpack why OCD is so often misdiagnosed, mistreated, or unintentionally reinforced, even by well-intentioned clinicians, and how ERP works to interrupt the obsession–compulsion cycle by targeting avoidance, ritualizing, and intolerance of uncertainty.
Be sure to listen in and remember, we want to hear from you! Have thoughts about this episode? A “clinical sin” you’ve encountered? Ideas for future topics or guests?
Leave us a voicemail via SpeakPipe https://www.speakpipe.com/cdpp4p Or send us an email [email protected] . We love hearing from our listeners.
As always, until next time, stay curious, and mind your EBPs.

Elizabeth McIngvale, Ph.D., LCSW, is the Director of the OCD Institute of Texas, Co-Founder of MHNTI, and faculty at Baylor College of Medicine. A renowned OCD expert, she has published 35+ peer-reviewed works and delivered 250+ lectures. She founded the Peace of Mind Foundation and OCDChallenge.org, now part of the IOCDF, where she serves as a Board Member and former national spokesperson. Diagnosed with OCD at age 12, Dr. McIngvale brings a unique dual perspective as both a clinician and advocate. She has advised NIH and SAMHSA and serves as a faculty instructor for the Behavioral Therapy Training Institute. She remains dedicated to advancing research and expanding access to high-quality care for OCD and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Lauren Wadsworth is a board-certified clinical psychologist and Clinical Senior Instructor at the University of Rochester Medical Center. She is the founding director of Genesee Valley Psychology (GVP), providing accessible evidence-based care in Western NY, and Meridian Psychology Practice, serving NY, MA, and GA. As a leader in mental health education, she co-founded the Mental Health National Training Institute (MHNTI) and Twin Stars Diversity Trainers. An expert in diversity and inclusion, she co-authored Did That Just Happen?! Beyond "Diversity" — Creating Sustainable and Inclusive Organizations. Dr. Wadsworth is dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based treatment and fostering inclusive environments through app-based training and organizational consultation.

Resources mentioned in this episode:
Mental Health Network & Training Institute (MHNTI) Evidence-based training and consultation for OCD and related disorders https://mhnti.com
International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) Clinician training, resources, and treatment referrals https://iocdf.org

Calls-to-action:
Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
Submit your comments or questions on our social media pages or via Speakpipe
Subscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email

Terminations in therapy should be expected, but they often catch us – patients and providers – off-guard. What is the best way to talk about termination? What if it’s unexpected? Is “termination” even the right word? This episode finds your hosts inspired by two listeners, one of whom asked us to muse on the topic of ending the therapy relationship. And what better way to terminate 2025 than by exploring this topic? Thanks, Jane!

Resources mentioned in this episode:
CDP’s consultation services: https://deploymentpsych.org/resources/consultation-services

Calls-to-action:
Make use of consultation when facing a challenging termination
Consider using a psychotherapy plan to articulate the treatment and termination process from the beginning
Incorporate ongoing assessment throughout to inform treatment and termination
Subscribe to the Practical for Your Practice Podcast
Submit your comments or questions on our social media pages or via Speakpipe
Subscribe to The Center for Deployment Psychology Monthly Email