The Unlicensed Therapist
The Unlicensed Therapist is a professional development podcast designed specifically for new mental health clinicians, students, and interns navigating the transition from graduate school to clinical practice. Hosted by Matthew Grimm, a counselor in Pennsylvania, the show serves as a "practical guide and ethical sounding board" that addresses the "Reality Gap"—the space between academic theory and the messy, human experience of the therapy room.
The podcast’s title is a play on the developmental stage of the audience (those working toward licensure) and the host's philosophy that a good therapist is a perpetual learner who remains "unlicensed" in the sense of constantly evolving and staying open to new growth.
Season Two Episode Two Everything I Knew About Counseling I Knew From Theater First!
What feeds your clinical practice outside of graduate school text books? In this solo episode of The Unlicensed Therapist, host Matthew Grimm takes us behind the curtain to explore an unexpected foundation of effective counseling: theater.
Whether standing in the wings before a show or opening the door to welcome a client, the stage and the therapy room share a crucial foundation—they must be cultivated as safe, held spaces. Matthew breaks down how foundational acting skills directly inform clinical work:
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Active Listening vs. Cue-Hunting: Why listening for emotional presence—rather than just waiting for your turn to respond—is vital for preventing therapeutic disconnect.
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Somatic Observation: Applying "Movement for the Actor" techniques to read body language, track physical baseline shifts, and help clients connect to their body's signals.
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Improvisation & Shared Power: How relinquishing control in improv mirrors collaborative therapy, helping clinicians drop the expert mask and foster authentic, give-and-take dialog.
Join us for an insightful look at how your distinct hobbies, past careers, and personal passions might already be enriching your work as a clinician.
Connect with us! Follow The Unlicensed Therapist Podcast on Facebook and LinkedIn to share your thoughts, suggest topics, or inquire about being a guest.
Episodes
Episodes
Jan 22, 2026
Jan 22, 2026
25 min
Episode 3: The Imposter Syndrome Trap
Feeling like a fraud in your counseling program? Welcome to the club. In this episode, we break down why Imposter Syndrome hits every new therapist—and why it’s actually a sign you’re growing, not failing.
We’ll dig into how the “Healer’s Myth” messes with your confidence, why your body goes into panic mode in the therapist chair, and the three strategies that instantly make your first clinical rotations less terrifying.
You’ll learn how to use supervision like a pro, how to stop chasing the “perfect session,” and how to step into the room as a Good Enough Therapist—present, grounded, and human.
If you’ve ever held your breath in practicum, this one’s for you.
Jan 15, 2026
Jan 15, 2026
22 min
Episode 2 – Mastering the Therapeutic Alliance:
In this episode of The Unlicensed Therapist, we explore the most powerful predictor of client success: the therapeutic alliance. More than any technique or theory, it’s the human bond—built on trust, collaboration, and empathy—that drives healing.
You’ll learn:
The three core components of the alliance: agreement on goals, agreement on tasks, and emotional bond
How to build trust from the first five minutes using non-verbal cues like seating, pacing, and micro-affirmations
Verbal tools like validation, normalization, and process commenting to deepen connection
How to repair ruptures when trust is challenged
Why a strong alliance is your best ethical defense in difficult moments
Whether you’re a student, new therapist, or seasoned clinician, this episode offers practical, evidence-based strategies to make your sessions more collaborative, compassionate, and effective.
🔔 Subscribe now and join us next week for Episode 3: The Imposter Syndrome Trap.
Jan 8, 2026
Jan 8, 2026
30 min
In this opening episode, listeners step behind the curtain to meet the host and discover the heart of The Unlicensed Therapist. This introduction lays out the podcast’s mission: to make the world of counseling clearer, kinder, and far less intimidating for anyone curious about it.