As a mental health professional, staying current with the latest therapeutic techniques, research, and industry insights is crucial for providing the best care to your clients. 

Podcasts offer a convenient way to continue your professional development while commuting, exercising, or during downtime. 

Whether you're a seasoned therapist or just starting your career, these carefully selected podcasts will enhance your knowledge, skills, and professional growth.

Top Podcasts for Clinical Skills and Techniques

Whether you're a seasoned therapist or just starting out, these podcasts sharpen your clinical instincts and provide actionable therapy tools.

1. Between Sessions with Berries

Hosted by Kym Tolson, a therapist turned digital nomad, this podcast explores the intersection of AI and private practice management. Tolson brings unique insights from her experience creating "Bill Like A Boss" and the Portable Practice Method, helping therapists integrate technology into their work while maintaining flexibility. 

Episodes cover practical topics like marketing your therapy practice, reducing administrative burden through AI tools, and scaling your practice with ease. This podcast is particularly valuable for therapists interested in leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance their business operations and clinical efficiency.

I’ll also be featured on the podcast in an upcoming episode on AI for social work practice. Stay tuned!

2. The Therapy for Black Girls Podcast

Dr. Joy Harden Bradford hosts this influential podcast focusing on mental health topics specifically relevant to Black women and communities of color.

Episodes cover culturally responsive therapy techniques, addressing systemic issues in mental health care, and practical strategies for working with diverse populations. This podcast is essential for developing cultural competency and understanding intersectionality in therapy.

3. On Psychology

The American Psychological Association's official podcast features interviews with leading researchers and clinicians. Episodes cover cutting-edge research, evidence-based practices, and emerging trends in psychology. The content is particularly valuable for therapists seeking to incorporate the latest scientific findings into their practice.

4. The Mental Illness Happy Hour

While not exclusively for professionals, Paul Gilmartin's long-running podcast provides invaluable insights into the lived experience of mental illness. Therapists gain authentic perspectives on conditions like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and addiction through honest interviews with guests sharing their stories. 

5. Therapy Reimagined

This podcast explores innovative approaches to therapy and mental health treatment.  Hosted by Curt Widhalm, LMFT and Katie Vernoy, LMFT, the show is a central part of the Therapy Reimagined movement, which seeks to update and humanize the field of therapy for modern clinicians and clients.

Episodes feature discussions about integrative therapies, technology in mental health, and creative therapeutic interventions. It's particularly useful for therapists interested in expanding their treatment modalities.

Specialized Therapy Approach Podcasts

For therapists diving deep into specific modalities, these shows explore focused approaches like trauma work, EMDR, and somatic therapy.

6. The Trauma Therapist Podcast

Guy Macpherson, a clinical psychologist, hosts this comprehensive resource for trauma-informed care. Episodes cover various trauma therapy modalities, including EMDR, somatic approaches, and cognitive processing therapy.

The podcast is invaluable for therapists working with trauma survivors or seeking to deepen their trauma-informed practice.

7. Let’s Talk About CBT 

Let's Talk About CBT is an accessible and engaging podcast dedicated to demystifying cognitive behavioural therapy. Hosted by Helen Macdonald, Senior Clinical Advisor for the British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP), the show features interviews with leading CBT experts and individuals who have experienced CBT first-hand.

This podcast is especially helpful for therapists, offering up-to-date insights, myth-busting discussions, and real-world examples that can enhance clinical practice and deepen understanding of CBT’s applications. 

8. Therapy Chat 

Hosted by Laura Reagan, LCSW-C, this podcast explores holistic and trauma-informed approaches to psychotherapy. Therapists can expand their knowledge of alternative modalities and hear in-depth interviews with experts on topics like trauma, attachment, and self-compassion. Each episode offers practical insights and real-world examples that clinicians can immediately apply to enhance their therapeutic work. 

Business and Professional Development

Running a private practice or building a personal brand? These podcasts offer guidance on everything from marketing to managing burnout.

9. Practice of the Practice

Joe Sanok's podcast is the go-to resource for therapists building private practices. Joe is a mental health counselor, and each episode covers marketing strategies, insurance and billing, office management, and scaling therapeutic practices. It's essential listening for therapists considering private practice or seeking to improve their business operations.

9. Social Work to Wealth

Social Work to Wealth is a podcast dedicated to empowering social workers, including practitioners, to achieve financial literacy, career growth, and long-term wealth. Hosted by Taylor and Faith, both experienced social workers, the show aims to break the stigma around money conversations in the social work profession and provide practical, transparent advice for building financial stability and professional fulfillment. 10. Therapist Uncensored

Therapist Uncensored is a widely acclaimed podcast that delivers candid, unscripted conversations rooted in attachment theory, relational neuroscience, and trauma research.

Hosted by Dr. Ann Kelley, PhD, and Sue Marriott, LCSW, CGP, both experienced Austin-based therapists, the show is designed to make complex psychological concepts accessible and actionable for both professionals and the general public.

Their conversational style makes advanced topics accessible while providing deep insights into relationship dynamics, neuroscience, and the therapeutic process.

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

Stay grounded in the science. These podcasts translate the latest mental health research into practical, evidence-based insights for your work.

11. The Science of Psychotherapy

Hosted by the editors of The Science of Psychotherapy magazine, primarily Richard Hill and Matthew Dahlitz, this podcast bridges the gap between research and clinical practice.

Episodes feature researchers explaining their studies in practical terms and discussing how findings can be applied in therapeutic settings. It's perfect for evidence-based practitioners seeking to stay current with research.

12. Speaking of Psychology

Another APA production, this podcast features shorter episodes focusing on specific psychological research topics.

The format makes it easy to stay updated on diverse areas of psychological science during brief listening sessions. The podcast also offers actionable insights and real-world examples that therapists can integrate into their practice.

Specialized Population Focus

Working with teens, couples, or other specific groups? These shows tackle the unique challenges and best practices for niche populations.

13. Teen Therapy Center Podcast

The Teen Therapy Center Podcast is associated with the Teen Therapy Center, an organization dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of adolescents and their families.

The center’s founder and Clinical Director, Kent Toussaint, is featured on various podcasts, including "Let's Talk," where he discusses topics relevant to teen mental health and therapy. The podcast content typically focuses on providing practical advice, expert insights, and real-world strategies for addressing the unique challenges faced by teenagers and their parents.

It's essential for therapists working with adolescents or families.

14. The Couples Therapist Couch

The Couples Therapist Couch is a podcast dedicated to the practice and art of couples therapy, hosted by Shane Birkel, a licensed marriage and family therapist.

The show is designed for therapists, marriage counselors, relationship coaches, and anyone interested in deepening their understanding of relationship dynamics and therapeutic interventions. Episodes include case discussions (appropriately anonymized) and expert interviews on relationship counseling approaches.

15. The OCD Stories 

The OCD Stories is a leading podcast dedicated to educating, inspiring, and supporting those affected by obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as the clinicians who serve them.

Hosted by Stuart Ralph, the show features in-depth interviews with top OCD clinicians, researchers, advocates, and individuals with lived experience, offering a comprehensive look at the complexities of OCD and its treatment. 

How to Maximize Your Podcast Learning

To turn passive listening into professional growth, here are tips to help you absorb, retain, and apply what you hear.

Create a Listening Schedule

Consistency is key to professional development. Set aside specific times for podcast listening, whether during commutes, walks, or dedicated learning time. Many therapists find that 2-3 episodes per week provides a manageable learning pace.

Take Notes and Reflect

Keep a professional development journal to record key insights, techniques to try, and questions for further exploration. This active engagement enhances the retention and application of podcast content.

Join Discussion Communities

Many podcasts have associated online communities where listeners discuss episodes and share experiences. Participating in these communities extends learning beyond the podcast itself.

Apply Learning Immediately

Look for opportunities to implement new techniques or perspectives from podcasts in your practice (when appropriate and ethical). Practical application reinforces learning and helps determine which approaches work best for your therapeutic style.

Bottom Line

These 15 podcasts represent some of the best resources available for mental health professionals seeking to enhance their skills, stay current with research, and develop their careers. The convenience and accessibility of podcast learning make it an ideal complement to traditional continuing education methods.

The investment in regular podcast listening pays dividends in enhanced clinical skills, increased professional confidence, and ultimately, better outcomes for the clients you serve. In a field where lifelong learning is both an ethical obligation and a practical necessity, podcasts provide an accessible, flexible, and engaging way to stay at the forefront of mental health practice.