The AAMFT Podcast
The AAMFT Podcast offers an all-access pass to the latest news, developments, and thought leaders in systemic therapy. Hosted by Dr. Eli Karam, it aims to relate, educate, and innovate through conversations with established experts. Episodes explore topics relevant to relationship-based therapists, providing information on direct practice and emerging trends in the MFT profession.
Episodes
Episode 143: All-Star Panel Series Bill Doherty & Patricia Papernow
The All-Star Panel Series continues with a thoughtful and deeply meaningful conversation featuring Bill Doherty and Patricia Papernow two of the most respected voices in the study of commitment, relationships, and family life.
Episode 139: AAMFT All-Star Panel Series Froma Walsh, Celia Falicov & Mary Jo Barrett
In this installment of the All-Star Panel Series, Eli is joined by Dr. Froma Walsh, Mary Jo Barrett, and Dr. Celia Falicov for a rich conversation on resilience, trauma, and the essential role of culture in healing.
Episode 138:All Star Panel Series Jill Freedman, Gene Combs & Diane Gehart
In this second installment of the All-Star Panel Series, Eli is joined by Jill Freedman, Gene Combs, and Diane Gehart for a conversation that will explore the heart of postmodern and integrative systemic therapy—story, meaning, mindfulness, and the transformative power of collaborative dialogue.
Episode 137: All-Star Panel Series
In the first AAMFT Podcast episode of 2026, Eli introduces the All-Star Panel Series featuring Cloé Madanes and Frank Dattilio for an in-depth conversation highlighting the enduring legacy of the late Norman Epstein. This series is devoted to legacy, mentorship, and the core ideas that advance our field of systemic therapy.
Episode 136: Loving Someone with Mental Illness
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Michelle Sherman to explore the delicate balance between supportive love and codependency, the hidden struggles of family members, and practical strategies for maintaining connection when mental health creates uncertainty.
Episode 135: Classic MFT Models Through the Lens of BIPOC Therapists
In this episode, Eli is joined by Dr. Steve Harris and Dr. Ronald Asiimwe, who share insights on representation, mentorship, and making MFT more accessible to diverse practitioners.
Episode 134: Early Career MFTs
In this episode, Eli hosts a roundtable of six MFTs who share their early career journeys navigating the transition from grad school to successfully obtaining licensure and building caseloads.
Episode 133: Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT)
In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli is joined by Dr. Carmen Knudson-Martin for an in-depth discussion about Socio-Emotional Relationship Therapy (SERT).
Episode 131: Ketamine Assisted Therapy with Couples
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Tammy Nelson to discuss Ketamine Assisted Relational Psychotherapy (KARP) as a potential pathway to release old habitual thoughts and patterns of relating to your partner.
Episode #130: The Evolution of Systemic Diagnosis
In this episode, Dr. Eli sits down with Dr. Priest to discuss the theory-driven assessment and the EPIC model for diagnosing the history, structure, and boundaries of family systems.
Episode #128: The Importance of Therapist “Way of Being”
In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Dr. Eli sits down with Dr. Fife and Dr. Whiting to explore the therapist’s “way of being” as a meta-intervention.
Episode 127: Managing Gaming and Social Media Habits
In this episode, Eli talks with Dr. Catherine Knibbs about how we use technology in everyday life. They also discuss how to identify when intervention is needed to assist our client systems in mastering problematic uses of technology.
Episode #126: Navigating Family Estrangement
In this episode, Dr. Eli sits down with systemic therapist Karl Melvin to discuss how clinicians can better support estranged adult clients using Karl’s Estrangement Inquiry Model.
Episode 125: Single Session Therapy
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Michael Hoyt to discuss guidelines and methods to make a single therapy session efficient and effective for individuals, couples, and families.
Episode 124: Neurodiverse Couple Therapy
In this episode, Eli is joined by Kelli Murgado-Willard, who discusses assessing, treating, and integrating practical interventions with neurodivergent clients.
AAMFT Podcast Episode #123: Working with Native American & Indigenous Client Systems
In this episode, AAMFT Leadership Symposium keynote speaker Dr. Laurelle Myhra joins Eli to discuss both the benefits and challenges of conducting systemic therapy with indigenous populations within predominantly Western mental health systems.
AAMFT Podcast Episode #122: Family Therapy for Caregivers of Dementia
In this episode, Sara Qualls joins Eli to discuss how family therapy may help caregivers cope with symptoms of cognitive impairment while still meeting the needs of multiple relatives.
AAMFT Podcast Episode #121: Fertility Counseling with Couples
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Kristy Koser for a discussion about helping couples navigating complex decisions while maintaining their relationship after a diagnosis of infertility and pursuing fertility treatments.
Episode 120: Ron Levant
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Ronald Levant to discuss normative male alexithymia and how he uses Alexithymia Reduction Treatment (ART) to support his clients in their therapy journey.
Episode 119: Collaborative Divorce
In this episode Eli sits down with Dr. Randy Heller to discuss the similarities and differences between collaborative divorce and traditional divorce mediation.
Episode: 118 Devin Hussong
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Devin Hussong to talk about integrating humor into the practice of systemic therapy.
Episode: 117 Kristina S. Brown
In this episode, Eli is joined by the AAMFT Systemic Ethics Textbook editor, Kristina S. Brown, Ph.D., LMFT, to discuss the book and current developments shaping systemic therapy's ethical practice.
Episode: 116 Kat Hertlein
During this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Kat Hertlein for a discussion about using AI tools to supplement systemic therapy. Tune in to hear Dr. Hertlein explore the benefits and risks of using AI in mental health, including potential data privacy and security issues.
Episode: 115 Rebecca A. Cobb
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Rebecca A. Cobb, the editor of the new book -The Therapist’s Notebook for Systemic Teletherapy: Creative Interventions for Effective Online Therapy – to explore innovative strategies and ways to adapt in-person therapy interventions for telehealth.
Episode 114: Shay Thomas DMFT, LMFT and Paul Hokemeyer J.D., Ph.D.
In this engaging episode, Eli hosts a discussion with Dr. Paul Hokemeyer and Shay Thomas, DMFT, LMFT. They delve into the ways in which marriage and family therapists negotiate and make use of various media opportunities.
Episode 113: Janina Fisher
In this episode, Eli and Dr. Janina Fisher discuss a new way of thinking about shame from a neurobiological perspective—as a survival strategy driving somatic responses of automatic obedience and total submission.
Episode 112: Christie Eppler
In this episode, Eli sits down with Christie Eppler, PhD, LMFT, to talk about her new book, “Cultivating Systemic Resilience in Therapy.” During this conversation, they discuss how to foster resilience in clinical treatment with individual and relational clients, supervisees, and in the therapist’s own life.
Episode 111: Max Zubatsky, PhD, LMFT, Tai Mendenhall, PhD, LMFT, & Jessica Goodman, PhD, LMFT
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Max Zubatsky, Dr. Tai Mendenhall, and Dr.Jessica Goodman to discuss their perspectives and experiences as supervisors of systemic therapists at all levels of training.
MFT License Portability
In this episode, Eli interviews AAMFT's very own Chief Advocacy Officer, Roger Smith, to discuss AAMFT's efforts in developing a model of MFT license portability in order to promote more objectivity in assessing qualifications, as well as standardization between states in our increasingly mobile society.
Episode 109: Dafna Lender
On this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Dafna Lender, LCSW, speaks to Eli about secure attachment of children with their caregivers, and the importance of playfulness and rupture repair in the parent-child relationship.
Episode 108: Sue Johnson, Jim Furrow & Gail Palmer
It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Sue Johnson on April 23, 2024. In this very special tribute episode, we hear from Sue in her own words about her childhood and professional legacy. Sue was also a cherished friend whose warmth and wisdom profoundly touched all who knew her. Two of those friends and leaders in the EFT Movement, Gail Palmer & Jim Furrow, join Eli to
Episode 107: Barry McCarthy
In this episode, we confront the traditional male-female power struggle over intercourse frequency and replace it with a new understanding in which both women and men value affectionate, sensual, playful, and erotic touch.
Episode 106: Martha Kauppi
In this episode, LMFT Martha Kauppi, sits down with Eli to explore polyamory from a systemic therapist's perspective. Martha is a therapist, author, speaker, and educator specializing in complex relational therapy, sex issues, and alternative family structures.
Episode 105: Ramani Durvasula
In this episode week's episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Durvasulais to explore the telltale behavioral patterns of narcissism and techniques that you can use with your client to encourage healing and growth.
Episode 104: Harville Hendrix & Helen LaKelly Hunt
In this episode, Eli sits down with married couple's therapists Harville Hendrix and Helen Lakelly Hunt, to discuss the unique challenges of approaching relationships with mindfulness and empathy. Their renowned Imago Relationship Therapy model, now being taught internationally, focuses on healing the inner self and utilizing needs-focused dialogue to heal the couple.
Episode 103: Don Posner
In the first installment of 2024 and the beginning of Season 6 of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli speaks with sleep expert, Donn Posner. Dr. Posner is one of the leaders in the field of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), and the founder and President of Sleepwell Consultants.
Episode 102: Bill Pinsof
In one of the most personal and revealing interviews in AAMFT Podcast history, Eli explores with Bill his origin story and both his successes and challenges throughout his pioneering journey into systemic therapy integration.
Episode 101: Steven Porges
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Porges to talk about his latest book aimed at the general public. It definitively presents how Polyvagal Theory can be understandable to all and demonstrates how its practical principles are applicable to anyone looking to live their safest, best, healthiest, and happiest life.
Episode 100: Deb Dana
In this episode, Deb and Eli discuss practical Polyvagal skills and how we can use Polyvagal Theory to transform the way we navigate our professional and personal relationships.
Episode 99: Dr. Doug Snyder
In this episode, Eli dives deep with Dr. Doug Snyder into a proven, research-based approach for treating couples impacted by the trauma of infidelity to learn the clinical skills that will empower your couples to recover after significant breaches of trust.
Episode 98: Dr. Karen Gail Lewis
In this episode, Eli sits down with Dr. Lewis to discuss the four components of sibling ghosts: frozen images, crystalized roles, unhealthy loyalty, and sibling transference.
Episode 97: Sara Reed
In this episode, Eli talks with a MFT leader in this area, Sara Reed. Sara is a mental health futurist and has spent her early career reimagining effective mental health care in the medical system.
Episode:96 Dr. Ellyn Bader
In this interview, Dr. Ellyn Bader sits down with Eli to describe the evolution of her work as a couples therapist. She also recalls how she and her therapist husband, Dr. Peter Pearson, founded the Couples Institute and the Developmental Model of Couples Therapy, a model that teaches therapists how to diagnose, intervene and significantly help troubled relationships.
Episode 95: Dr. Chris Habben
In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli has a thought-provoking conversation with AAMFT Past President & current Chair of the Spirituality in Clinical Practice (SICP) Topical Interest Network - Dr. Chris Habben.
Episode 94: Barbara McCrady
In this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli and leading scientist-practitioner, Barbara McCrady, review the historical and conceptual underpinnings of ABCT, as well as the specific treatment elements and structure.
Episode 93: Jim Furrow
On this installment of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli interviews EEFT innovator, Jim Furrow, Ph.D. They discuss how to confidently lead family members through distress and past injuries to create new relational patterns, bond with each other, and experience a fuller sense of security.
Episode 92: Teresa McDowell, Carmen Knudson-Martin, and Maria Bermudez
On this episode of the AAMFT Podcast, Eli sits down with the authors ofSocioculturally Attuned Family Therapy - Teresa McDowell, Carmen Knudson-Martin & Maria Bermudez – for a thoughtful dialogue on the need for marriage and family therapists to engage in socially responsible practice by infusing diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout theory and clinical practice. They explore why sociocu
Episode 91:Chris Michaels
In this episode, Eli sits down with AAMFT CEO, Chris Michaels, to discuss these findings and other important developments impacting all practicing MFTs. Download the 2022 MFT Industry Workforce Study for insight into these as well as anticipated challenges and trends facing the profession in the coming years at aamft.org.
Episode 89: Ryan Seedall and Tony Rousmaniere
Helping families/systems to achieve their goals is one of the most rewarding (and challenging!) clinical tasks. While therapists usually receive excellent training in theoretical underpinnings coupled with many hours of therapy and a high standard of supervision (often delivered by live or video review).There still remain too few avenues for practice and to achieve competency in core Systemic Fami
Episode 88: Jessica ChenFeng
Jessica ChenFeng Ph.D, LMFT- Currently holds position as Associate Director of Physician Vitality and Professor of Medical Education at Loma Linda University. In this podcast Jessica discusses her background as a second generation Taiwanese American, and how her personal and surveyed experiences within her community influenced her career path. Eli and Jessica dive into some of the racial and cultu
Episode 87: Dr. Bill Miller
In this episode Dr. Bill Miller, Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry may be best known for his framework on motivational interviewing.Dr. Miller shares a bit of his path as a clinician and how he finds his work at the intersection of psychology and spirituality.He and Eli discuss his most recent work with ambivalent clients, and client systems. Which utilizes techniques such as rolling with res
Episode 86: Dr. Pauline Boss
Dr. Pauline Boss is a clinician, educator, and principal theorist on the concept of ambiguous loss. In this episode, Pauline talks about her research, work with grieving communities, and how we are all impacted by ambiguous loss. This experience can be defined by the way we handle major life transitions, psychological loss, or unfulfilled expectations. Dr. Boss delves into the lack of attention g
Episode 78: Graham Danzer
Graham Danzer is a research-informed forensic psychologist and author of the book: Therapist Self-Disclosure: An Evidence-Based Guide for Practitioners. Graham sits down with Eli to discuss the benefits and challenges of navigating self-disclosure with various populations, the importance of making disclosures brief and relevant and of lower intimacy content, and the balancing self-disclosure in ma
Episode 76: David Kessler
David Kessler is one of the world's foremost experts on loss, the founder of Grief.com, and coauthored two books with Louise Hay and Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. He sits down with Eli to discuss his journey to find his own healing, his work and relationship with Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, and common misconception about the five stages of dying. Finally he discusses the non-linear, observational nature of th
Episode 75: Andrea Wittenborn and Kendal Holtrop
This week’s episode is a special show featuring the co-editors of the JMFT Special Anniversary Issue: Andrea Wittenborn and Kendal Holtrop. Dr. Andrea Wittenborn is Professor of Human Development and Family Studies. She also holds an appointment in the Division of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine at Michigan State University. Dr. Kendal Holtrop is an Associate Professor of Human Development and
Episode 72: Mona Fishbane
Mona Fishbane, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist licensed in Illinois and New Jersey, is the past director of the Couple Therapy Training Program at the Chicago Center for Family Health. Mona specializes in treating couples and adult individuals. Her particular focus is on integrating "news from neuroscience" with a systemic approach to therapy. She sits down with Eli for the first of a two-episode f
Episode 71: Chelsea Spencer
Dr Chelsea Spencer is an Assistant Research Professor at Kansas State University and has extensively studied Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) and conjoint couple treatment for IPV. Dr Spencer sits down with Eli to discuss her early life and education working with Dr Sandra Stith, factors in determining which couples may and may not be good candidate for conjoint treatment, and techniques for assess
Episode 70: Howard Liddle
This week Eli sits down with Dr Howard Liddle. Dr Liddle is a professor in the Department of Public Health Sciences, and Director of the Center for Treatment Research on Adolescent Drug Abuse at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Liddle's research focus is on the development, testing, implementation, and dissemination of family-based treatment for adolescent substance abuse and
Episode 69: Frank Anderson
Frank Anderson, MD, is both a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who specializes in the treatment of trauma and dissociation. Franks sits down with Eli to discuss the current state of psychopharmacology, and how medicine and talk therapy can work hand in hand to drive client results. He discusses strategies for therapists to stay on top of the latest treatments and therapies, when and how to make a
Episode 68: Ellen Wachtel
Dr. Ellen Wachtel is a renowned couples’ therapist and author of the book The Heart of Couple Therapy. She sits down with Eli to discuss the core ingredients of effective couples’ therapy, the importance of hopefulness to the therapeutic process, and how a person’s legacy issues can impact their current relationship. She also shares examples of her unique use of the geneogram, and ways in which co
Episode 67: Constance Ahrons
Constance Ahrons was a ground-breaking systemic therapist who challenged negative stereotypes about divorce and was an early advocate for collaborative divorce. She was the author of The Good Divorce and participated in groundbreaking longitudinal research on the effects of divorce on children. In this episode she discusses her early career and influences including working with Carl Whitaker, her
Episode 66: Patrick and Stefanie Carnes
Patrick Carnes, PhD, and Stefanie Carnes, PhD, LMFT are the founder and president, respectively, of the International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals. In this episode, they discuss the unique nature of being a father and daughter team in the field, their treatment approach to compulsive sexual behaviors, and the impact of these behaviors on couple and individual functioning in ord
Episode 65: Jay Lappin and Jorge Colapinto
Jay Lappin trained in the relational architecture of Structural Family Therapy with Dr. Salvador Minuchin. He currently maintains a private practice, teaches at Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania, leads workshops and work as an independent consultant. Jorge Colapinto has written and lectured both nationally and internationally on structural family therapy and currently teaches at the Drexel
Episode 64: Mary Jo Barrett
Mary Jo Barrett is an author and the Executive Director and co-founder of The Center for Contextual Change, Ltd. She holds a master’s in social work from the University of Illinois Jane Addams School of Social Work and is currently on the faculties of University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, The Chicago Center For Family Health, and the Family Institute of Northwestern Unive
Episode 63: Kaethe Weingarten
Kaethe Weingarten, Ph.D., directs the Witness to Witness (W2W) program, a nonprofit organization that consults to individuals, families, and communities locally, nationally, and internationally to transform toxic witnessing of violence and violation to active compassionate witnessing with others, for the Migrant Clinicians Network. She discusses her early life experiences and the origins of the Wi
Episode 62: Megan McCoy
This week’s guest is Megan McCoy, LMFT, PhD an adjunct faculty member at Kansas State University where she teaches courses for the Financial Therapy Certificate Program. An expert on financial therapy and healing financial infidelity, Her research interests truly focus on how to create more empirical evidence to support work that she has seen change so many lives in her clinical experiences. She d
Episode 61: Dr. Ian Kerner
Ian Kerner, PhD, LMFT, is a licensed psychotherapist, NYT bestselling author, and nationally recognized sexuality counselor who specializes in sex therapy, couples therapy and working with individuals on a range of relational issues that often lead to distress. He discusses negative associations with pornography and erotica and how these can be overcome, the move away from a language of addiction
Episode 60: Laura Frey and Quintin Hunt
Dr. Laura Frey is the principal investigator for a grant funded by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention that examines the effect of parental expressed emotion on adolescent disclosure of suicide ideation and a professor at the University of Louisville where she heads up the Couples and Family Therapy program. Dr. Quintin Hunt is a professor at Brigham Young University. His research inter
Episode 59: Melissa Orlov
The symptoms of adult ADHD can be particularly damaging in close relationships, especially if those symptoms have never been diagnosed or treated. Melissa Orlov has been working and speaking on the topic of adult ADHD since 2007 and wrote The ADHD Effect on Marriage. Her interview focuses on difficulties faced by adults with ADHD, from getting diagnosed, to overcoming shame and stigma, and chromic
Episode 58: Karlin J. Tichenor and Corey E. Yeager
Karlin J. Tichenor and Corey E. Yeager are co-authors of the chapter "Letters to the Field" in the Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy. In this episode, they define historical trauma and its influence on African American client systems. They discuss the importance of story-telling as a belief system that indigenous Africans and African-Americans have passed down intra- and inter-generationally, an
Episode 57: Mudita Rastogi
Mudita Rastogi is an LMFT, grant consultant, coach, and educator. She is the associate co-editor of the Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy and author of the chapter, "Systemic Conceptualization of Interventions." In this episode, she discusses systems thinking in a global framework, effective interventions with underserved populations, and the psychological and relational effects of oppression an
Episode 56: Janice Abrahms Spring
Janice Abrahms Spring is a clinical psychologist and nationally acclaimed expert on issues of trust, intimacy, and forgiveness and author of multiple books on infidelity including a radical model for when not to forgive. In this episode, she discusses how to help couples come to an agreed definition of infidelity, what couples need to realistically rebuild their relationship and manage triggers, a
Episode 55: Laurie Charlés and Saliha Bava
Laurie Charlés and Saliha Bava are the authors of a chapter in the Handbook of Systemic Family Therapy titled "Systemic Therapy & Global Mental Health." During this episode, they reflect on their experience with professional development and training within global mental health, specifically the necessary skills and relational process when family therapy is taken outside of our borders, the languag
Episode 54: Howard Markman and Scott Stanley
Howard Markman and Scott Stanley are internationally recognized researchers who have authored over 100 publications and whose work has spanned over four decades. During this episode, they talk about their many years of collaboration including the development of the PREP® curricula for relationship education and enhancement. Reflecting on the clinically relevant findings from 40 years of the progra
Episode 53: Gwyn Daniel
Gwyn Daniel is a systemic psychotherapist and trainer at the Tavistock Institute in London. She is the author of the chapter "Families in Chronically Unsafe Community Environments" in the Handbook of Systemic Therapy. In this episode, she discusses the impacts of trauma, political violence, and dislocation on family life, particularly for Palestinian families. Interventions are shared that aim to
Episode 52: Sean Davis
Sean Davis is a professor at Alliant International University and the author of seven books including a widely used textbook in the field. In this episode, he talks about the often overlooked skill of writing: for therapeutic effect, for self-care, for your practice. He discusses the advantages of writing to complement clinical skills, including critical thinking and persuasive abilities, and shar
Episode 51: Lori Gottlieb
Lori Gottlieb is a psychotherapist and author of the NYT bestseller Maybe You Should Talk to Someone. which is currently being adapted as a television series. In addition to her clinical practice, she writes The Atlantic’s weekly “Dear Therapist” advice column. In this episode, she shares her non-traditional path to become an MFT. She discusses how her column provides a window into how therapists
Episode 50: Eliana Gil
Eliana Gil is the founding partner of the Gil Instititue for Trauma Recovery and Education. A play therapy pioneer, Gil talks about integrating family therapy and play therapy and finding ways to invite children into the adult world through alternate ways of expression. She talks about how to feel comfortable in working with kids and enliven a process that many struggle with verbally. Finally, she
Episode 49: Ben Fineman and Caroline Wiita
Ben Fineman is an associate MFT and Caroline Wiita is a marriage and family therapist in training. Together they host the podcast Very Bad Therapy, which talks about what goes wrong in the therapy room and how it could go better, interviewing both clients who have had bad experiences and experts who share insight from their years of experience. In this episode, they discuss the need for young prof
Episode 48: Markie Twist
Dr. Markie Twist is an award-winning sexuality educator and sexologist. In this episode, she discusses attachment and sexuality in the digital age and the need for MFTs to treat technology as a growing, changing member of the relational system. The Couple and Family Technology framework she co-developed is explained, as well as assessment and four essential micro-skills in addressing technology. F
Recommended
10th Floor Podcasts
10 to Life
1128 MINISTRY
11 O'Clock Comics Podcast
123 GO! Food
1-2-3 Learn Spanish with Me!
128 Civics Questions for U.S. Citizenship Test
12 Hour Sound Machines for Sleep (no loops or fades)
#12minconvos
12 Minute Meditation
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos by Jordan B. Peterson, Book Summary, Podcast, English
1440 Explores
