Virtual LIVE CONVERSATION SERIEs for early-career Mental health Professionals
SUMMER 2026 | 3-Part LIVE Conversation Series
real conversations. the KIND you don’t typically have, BUT REALLY NEED.
Becoming a Great Therapist isn’t about having it all figured out or measuring yourself against anyone else. It’s about defining what great means for you.
If you’re in grad school or early in your clinical work and quietly wondering, “Why does this feel so hard?” or asking yourself, "Am I cut out for this?" — this series is for you.
Becoming a clinician carries a weight no one really prepares you for. You are not failing. You are not unprepared. And you most definitely are not alone.
One Saturday per month in June, July & August 2026
10am - 12pm pst | Live, VIA Zoom
3 Part Conversational Series: All classes will act as their own contained session and do not have prerequisites, but each session will build upon important layers of conversation and community. This is a space you can return to again and again on your way to becoming the therapist you're still learning how to be.
Session 1 — Jun 20th, 2026
The Myth of the “Right Therapist”
Most therapists are quietly trying to figure out if they’re doing this “right.” This session is about stepping out of that pressure, understanding what actually makes therapy work, and beginning to trust your own way of showing up.
Session 2 — Jul 25th, 2026
Impostor Syndrome, Comparison, & Building Confidence
The self-doubt, the comparison, the feeling that everyone else has it figured out—it’s more common than you think. We’ll talk openly about it, and more importantly, how to build real confidence that actually holds up in the room.
Session 3 — AUG 15th, 2026
What Actually Matters in Session
When you strip everything else away, what really helps clients change? This session brings you back to the core of the work—presence, connection, and the moments that matter more than any technique ever will.
Non-students: $45/session, $100/all three
Choose a la carte sessions or bundle all three for 25% off!
Students: $15/session, $45/all three
Students with valid .edu or equivalent email address receive a steeper discount overall. Requires approval.
Learn to NAVIGATE the work—from those who already ARE
This live, virtual guided conversational series exists to name the parts of being a Mental Health Professional that don’t always get talked about in school: the self‑doubt, the pressure to get it right, the emotional weight you carry home, and the very real gap between theory and actually sitting across from a human in real time.
You’ll learn to orient yourself to what actually matters while you’re still becoming a therapist—how to trust yourself ethically, tolerate uncertainty, let go of comparison, and stay human in a field that quietly demands perfection.
The Experience
Each session is a 2 hour live virtual guided conversation focusing on different parts of the work, hosted by me, Dustin Adler, LMFT. Come to one, or come to all — each session in this conversational series is founded upon honesty, grounded support, and direct evidence that you are not alone in your experiences.
This isn’t just a workshop—it’s a conversation built to cover the heavy parts of this job.
Each session is split into two parts.
The first half is focused, real-world engaged teaching on what actually matters in the room—not just theory, but how this work actually feels when you’re in it. You’ll walk away with something real you can take into your sessions right away.
Then we shift.
The second half is fully open conversation. Bring your questions, your stuck points, your “what the hell do I do here?” moments—we’ll talk through it all together.
No scripts. No pretending. Just honest learning, real discussion, and a space where you don’t have to figure this out alone.
Rather than teaching “the right way” to do therapy, you will learn:
How therapists actually think through real cases
How clinicians approach the same situation differently
What to do when you feel stuck, unsure, or not fully present
How to navigate imposter syndrome and comparison
How to show up consistently without having it all figured out
How this work realistically fits into your life
What You’ll Walk Away With:
A clearer understanding of what’s normal at this stage - Relief from the belief that you’re failing or inadequate - Insight into how experienced clinicians think and decide in real time - Permission to develop your own authentic clinical style - Practical ways to stay grounded and take care of yourself
Who is this SEries for?
You feel pressure to be perfect
You’re learning how to hold heavy clinical material while still trying to live your life
You often feel like everyone else is more confident or competent than you
You worry you’re “behind” or doing therapy wrong
If you’re waiting for that moment for everything to suddenly just “click”
If you’re wanting reassurance that there are many valid ways to be a good therapist
You don’t have to be an expert. You do not have to be perfect. You just have to show up.
Why this program exists
I wish something like this had existed when I was in school, and especially the first few years after I graduated. I was constantly feeling like I was underprepared and doing this wrong, and felt totally alone in this.
Graduate training does an incredible job teaching theory, ethics, and foundational skills - you truly are getting an amazing education and are far more prepared than you'll feel. What it doesn’t always have space for though is the internal experience of becoming a clinician — the imposter syndrome and self-doubt, the comparison, the moments of feeling lost or exhausted in session, and the challenge of holding other people’s pain while still being a person with your own life.
This on-going virtual conversational series was created to bridge that gap — not by giving you more techniques, but by offering honest conversation, real examples, and permission to be human while you grow into your clinical identity. And, to start early building boundaries that protect YOU.
Meet Your Facilitator
My name is Dustin Adler—I’m an SMC alum (’20), a licensed LMFT with my own virtual private practice, an AMFT Clinical Supervisor, and an Adjunct Professor at Saint Mary’s College of California.
This workshop comes from years of sitting with clients, consulting with other therapists, mentoring emerging clinicians, and recognizing how little space there is to talk honestly about the internal weight of this work.
Ready to participate?
Cost & Accessibility
If you’re currently in school, sign up with your school email for a student price of only $15/session. STUDENT SIGN UP
If you’re out of school and new in the field: $45/session or a discounted rate of $100 for all three. NON-STUDENT SIGN UP
If cost would be a barrier, you’re welcome to reach out directly.
This is Built With You In Mind
The intention is to create a real, engaged space for emerging clinicians where you can keep coming back to for honest support.
Come prepared with questions. Share what’s been hard. Bring the moments you’re unsure about.
Because this work isn’t meant to be figured out alone.