Ohio Counseling Conversations

The official Ohio Counseling Association podcast. Our mission is to host experts from our membership, leadership, and throughout the counseling field to bring listeners relevant conversations around what it means to be a counselor in Ohio. In addition, this podcast will provide a platform for Ohio Counseling Association divisions, chapters, and committees to share information and updates. Made for counselors by counselors, we hope to highlight important conversations in the profession that will inform our work as we continue to grow as professionals and as people. Thank you for tuning in! Views, beliefs, or references mentioned in episodes do not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Ohio Counseling Association. The views expressed by guests are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests do not necessarily reflect the view of the Ohio Counseling Association or a

Ohio Counseling Conversations is a health podcast hosted by Ohio Counseling Association, with 77 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Ohio Counseling Association hosts Ohio Counseling Conversations, a health show with 77 episodes published.

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  Ohio Counseling Conversations

  Couch to Capitol: September 2026 Legislative Updates

  Sep 29, 202610 min

  Send us Fan Mail A single change in the law can decide whether a teen gets help today or has to wait until it’s too late. We’re tracking a major Ohio proposal, Senate Bill 274, that would require parent or guardian consent before a minor can receive any mental health services, reversing the current minor consent pathway that allows limited outpatient care for teens starting at age 14. We walk through what the bill could mean for school-based counseling, situations involving suicidal ideation or abuse, and why counselor testimony is so important right now. We also zoom out to the practical side of professional advocacy and support. We share how OCA’s Government Relations Committee is building quarterly town halls so counselors can stay current on legislative and policy updates, ask questions, and connect directly with the people doing the work at the Statehouse. Plus, we spotlight the All Ohio Counselors Conference (AOCC) 2026 and a hands-on session designed to help clinicians turn insurance denials into ethical action through effective grievance filing that aligns with the ACA Code of Ethics. Then we connect the dots between mental health and civic life. Voting is a social determinant of health, and we explain why voter access matters for clients, communities, and the issues that get funded. We point you to tools like sample ballots, cover key Ohio voting dates, and discuss Ohio Issue 3 and concerns about adding barriers at the polls. We close with federal advocacy updates from ACA Hill Day, including pushes for better Medicaid reimbursement, youth prevention funding, and permanent Medicare telehealth expansion. Subscribe so you never miss these policy updates, share this with a colleague in Ohio, and leave a quick review to help more counselors find the show. State News SB 274/HB 172 - Prohibiting mental health care of minors without parental consent (OPPOSE) Share written testimony with OCA’s Government Relations Committee via email at charles.potter@mindfully.com Ohio Issue 3, Require Voter Identification Amendment (2026) (OPPOSE) Federal News Mental Health Access and Provider Support Act - ( H.R. 8081 / S. 4202 ) (SUPPORT) increase counselor reimbursement from 75% to 85% of the Medicaid Physician Fee Schedule. EARLY Minds Act ( H.R. 1735 / S. 779 ) - (SUPPORT) give states flexibility to use a portion of pre-existing federal funds to expand prevention and early intervention services for youth CONNECT for Health Act ( H.R. 4206 / S. 1261 ) make the COVID-era Medicare telehealth expansion permanent Election Information Update your voter registration Check your voter registration and find your polling place Generate a sample ballot Why is voting important Connect with Us on Any or All Socials at our Link Tree! OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee Hosted by Victoria Frazier, LPCC Pre-Production & Coordination by Dr. Marisa Cargill, Lauren Collins-Knight, Victoria Frazier, Dr. Chase Morgan-Swaney Editing by Victoria Frazier

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  Ohio Counseling Conversations

  Let's Unpack That #17: Unpacking Headlines of 2026 (Pt. 2)

  Sep 22, 202653 min

  Send us Fan Mail Tune in to part two of “Unpacking Headlines of 2026” where this episode we wrestle with how therapy speak shapes real-life relationships, how financial stress and subtle uncertainties of the economy show up in the counseling office, and explore third spaces and why Cleveland’s WNBA return can rebuild belonging and collective joy. Pop culture “therapy speak” is everywhere, and the stakes are higher than a vocab debate. When words like triggered, gaslighting, boundaries, narcissist, and attachment style hit the group chat, they can either open a door to self-understanding or become a shortcut that shames, labels, and shuts people down. We talk through concept creep, why people reach for these terms when they’re flooded, and how we can respond with curiosity and nuance instead of online gotchas. Then we pivot to a headline most of us feel in our bodies: everything costs more. Lower inflation doesn’t mean lower prices, and financial stress rarely walks into session wearing a name tag. We connect the affordability crisis to irritability, insomnia, conflict, overworking, avoidance, and shame, and we reframe a lot of “anxious distress” as a reasonable response to unreasonable circumstances. We also share practical ways to invite money conversations in intake, validate what’s real without blaming clients, and keep a resource mindset when people have to cut back. Finally, we ask a question that keeps coming up for adults: where do we go to make friends now? We unpack the decline of third spaces, how loneliness gets mislabeled as personal failure, and why rebuilding community matters. That’s also why Cleveland getting a WNBA team again, the Cleveland Sirens, is more than sports: it’s identity, representation, and collective hope when the news feels heavy. If you enjoy thoughtful, counselor-forward takes on culture, language, and community connection, subscribe to Ohio Counseling Conversations, leave a five-star review, and share this with a friend. Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Marisa Cargill, PhD & Mike Desposito ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, PhD & Mike Desposito ·Editing by Marisa Cargill, PhD

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  Ohio Counseling Conversations

  Let's Unpack That #15: Finding Your Theoretical Fit

  Aug 18, 202632 min

  Send us Fan Mail It’s a question we’ve all been asked time and time again: “What’s your theoretical orientation?” We first heard it in grad school, but answering that question has never really gone away. Picking a counseling modality can feel like choosing a side, but real counseling rarely works that way. In this episode of Let’s Unpack That, we talk through what has actually helped us decide the tools to use in session and the modalities we root ourselves in. Some counselors may find themselves practicing primarily from one modality, whereas others utilize a more eclectic blend. We explore both perspectives during this episode, and acknowledge the similarities and differences that can confuse new learners when taking in the many counseling modalities to choose from. Join us as we review three core foundational theories (Psychodynamic, Cognitive Behavioral, & Humanistic) that influence additional waves of therapies. Finally, we explore how even though there can be many similarities in the “cake” of counseling, different “frostings” influence what we respond to in session. If your cake is frosted full of Motivational Interviewing, you’ll respond differently to client complaints than your colleague decorating their Somatic-Focused cake. If you are a counselor, student, or curious listener trying to find the modality that fits your brain and your clients, this episode will help you breathe and get practical. Listen, then tell us what influenced your theoretical fit. Subscribe to Ohio Counseling Conversations, leave a five-star review, and share this with a friend. OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Victoria Frazier and Lauren Collins-Knight ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Lauren Collins-Knight and Victoria Frazier ·Editing by Lauren Collins-Knight ·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood

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  Ohio Counseling Conversations

  Conversation 44 - Gate Opening: Intentional Trauma Informed Care in Counseling

  Aug 11, 202648 min

  Send us Fan Mail Trauma work gets more effective and more honest when we stop pretending identity is optional. We sit down with Dr. Claire Martin, professional counselor, counselor educator, complex trauma specialist, and incoming AMCD President-elect, to talk about what culturally responsive, liberatory, trauma-informed care looks like in real clinical decisions and real professional leadership. We start with the personal roots of her work: mentorship, immigration, and early experiences of political turmoil in Haiti that built a lifelong sensitivity to oppression and community harm. From there, we get practical about trauma treatment. Dr. Martin breaks down how she thinks about EMDR therapy for complex trauma, what “readiness” actually means, and how trauma-focused CBT principles like safety, psychoeducation, regulation skills, and client-led storytelling can strengthen counseling across settings. Then we go where many clinicians hesitate: racial trauma and the myth that it only exists when clients bring it up first. Dr. Martin explains how to look for system-level impact, why trust and connection are central to healing, and how approaches like relational-cultural therapy help clients feel seen while counselors stay culturally humble. We also dig into the pipeline problems that shape access to care: gatekeeping versus “gate opening,” the supervisor shortage, incentives that could make supervision sustainable, and why integrative care, AI in counseling education, and advocacy for mental health funding belong in our shared future. If this conversation adds language or tools you want to carry into session, subscribe, share it with a colleague, and leave a review so more counselors can find it. Other Resources: https://www.drclairemartin.com/ Find Dr. Martin on LinkedIn here . Connect with Us on Any/All Socials at our Link Tree! OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling If you’re a counselor in Ohio and would like to get involved as part of production or as a guest, or know someone who might be interested, please email us at ohiocounselingconversations@gmail.com! **** Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee ·Hosted by Victoria Frazier ·Pre-Production & Coordination by Marisa Cargill, Lauren Collins-Knight, Victoria Frazier, and Shannon O'Mara ·Editing by Marisa Cargill ·Original music selections by Elijah Satoru Wood

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  Ohio Counseling Conversations

  Couch to Capitol: July 2026 Legislative Updates

  Jul 28, 202622 min

  Send us Fan Mail Laws don’t feel abstract when they land on your schedule, your billing, or your client’s ability to get through the front door. We’re back with a summer policy check-in that connects Ohio legislative news, federal rulemaking, and real clinical impact for counselors across the state. We start in Ohio, where a vetoed absentee voting bill highlights how barriers to civic participation can hit the same communities we often serve. Then we dig into a big practice-stability win: new limits on insurance clawbacks, plus the Access to Care bills that could improve network adequacy, stop retroactive prior authorization denials for behavioral health, and require private insurers to cover telehealth mental health services. We also unpack fresh data on reimbursement gaps, provider shortages across Ohio counties, and what a steep drop in ACA marketplace enrollment could mean for clients who suddenly can’t afford coverage. From there, we zoom out to Washington. We break down the proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including the plan to extend the mental health telehealth in-person waiver, and why the numbers still matter for reimbursement. We also flag the “Do No Harm” earnings benchmark rule that could squeeze counseling programs and student loan access, even as the workforce shortage grows. Finally, we cover the status of 988’s specialized LGBTQ youth routing, what to update in safety plans right now, and the growing reach of the counseling compact for interstate telehealth. If you want clear, counselor-focused mental health policy updates without the fluff, subscribe, share this with a colleague, and leave a review so more counselors can find it. State Level Gov. DeWine Vetoes HB 472 (Absentee Ballot ID Requirement) — No action needed; resolved. SB 162 Signed Into Law (Insurer Recoupment Timeframe) — No action needed; know your new rights on billing clawbacks. HB 219 — Network Adequacy Standards (Pending) — (SUPPORT) Contact your state rep to prioritize this bill when session resumes. HB 220 — Bars Retroactive Prior Auth Denials for MH/SUD Care (Passed House) — (SUPPORT) Contact your state rep to prioritize this bill when session resumes. HB 709 — Requires Telehealth Mental Health Coverage (Pending) — (SUPPORT) Contact your state rep to prioritize this bill when session resumes. Ohio Kids Losing Access to Mental Healthcare — (UPDATE) Use this data when advocating for HB 219/220/709. Ohio's Largest-in-the-Nation ACA Marketplace Enrollment Drop — (UPDATE) Check in with clients about coverage changes at intake/renewal. 30% of Ohio Women Didn't Get Needed Reproductive Care — (UPDATE) No specific action; context for client conversations. Funding Gaps and Stigma Driving Ohio LGBTQ+ Health Disparities — (UPDATE) Consider affirming-care CEU/training opportunities. House Bill 172 — Repeals ORC 5122.04 (Minor Consent for Mental Health Services) – (OPPOSE) Submit written testimony, contact your state rep to discuss in person. Senate Bill 274 — Repeals ORC 5122.04 (Minor Consent for Mental Health Services), Senate Companion to HB 172 – (OPPOSE) Submit written testimony, contact your state senator to discuss in person. ODM Recognizes DC:0-5 Diagnostic System for Infant/Toddler Mental Health — (UPDATE) No action needed; know the new billing crosswalk is available if you treat clients ages 0–5. Federal Level CMS Releases CY2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule — (OPPOSE Cuts to Fee Schedule) Submit comments by Sept. 14 (file code CMS-1848-P) at regulations.gov. "Do No Harm" Earnings Provision Now in Effect, Threatens Counseling Education Programs — Contact your members of Congress and urge them to protect counseling and other helping-profession programs from this earnings test via ACA's Take Action center . SB 5017 Bipartisan Senators Introduce More Paid Leave for More Americans Act — (SUPPORT) No action needed yet; bill just introduced. Good context for clients navigating unpaid leave, postpartum stress, or caregiver burnout. H.R. 8800 National Defense Authorization Act SAVE America Act Attached to NDAA — Voter ID/Registration Bill (Contested, Outcome Uncertain) — (SUPPORT) Civic participation is a protective factor for many clients — documentation barriers under debate would land hardest on older adults, name-changed individuals, and people without easy passport/birth certificate access. H.R. 139 - House Passes Sunshine Protection Act (Permanent Daylight Saving Time) — (UPDATE - WATCH) No action needed; informational. HHS Withdraws Rule Threatening Hospital Medicare/Medicaid Access Over Trans Youth Care — (WATCH) Continue monitoring; situation still developing. Other — Advocacy & Community 988 LGBTQ+ "Press 3" Option: One Year Since Shutdown, Still Not Restored — Update your referral lists; in the meantime, the Trevor Project's own 24/7 line is 1-866-488-7386. Contact your representative to push HHS to move faster. Pennsylvania Becomes 40th State to Join the Counseling Compact — No action needed; informational. ACA Hill Day — Registration Closes July 31 @ 11:59 PM — Register now . AOCC Registration Open — Early Bird Pricing — Register now to lock in the discount. Connect with Us on Any or All Socials at our Link Tree! OCA Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/ohiocounseling Created by the OCA's Media, Public Relations, and Membership (MPRM) Committee & its Podcast Subcommittee Hosted by Dr. Marisa Cargill Pre-Production & Coordination by Dr. Marisa Cargill, Lauren Collins-Knight, Victoria Frazier, and Mariah Payne Editing by Dr. Marisa Cargill

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