Peer Support Groups
At Water & Stone Consulting | Education, our peer support groups are designed for reflective and intellectually curious clinicians who seek a deeper level of professional and personal exploration.
These groups go beyond surface-level case consultation—offering a space for nuanced discussion, critical self-examination, and engagement with the complex realities of clinical practice. Rooted in thoughtful dialogue, mutual support, and professional growth, our approach challenges assumptions, fosters deeper insight, and cultivates a community of therapists dedicated to continuous learning and ethical integrity. Rather than rigid structures or formulaic interventions, we facilitate thought-provoking conversations that engage with the emotional, ethical, and systemic dimensions of therapy. These groups are ideal for professionals who are:
Looking for a collegial, intellectually stimulating space beyond traditional supervision models.
Interested in exploring the intersections of clinical work, personal identity, and systemic realities.
Seeking meaningful professional connection in an environment of curiosity, depth, and authenticity.
This is not just another peer group—it’s a community of reflective practitioners committed to evolving in their work and within themselves.
2025 Overview
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The Emotional Cost of Holding Space
How do we metabolize the intensity of our work without absorbing it?Imposter Syndrome vs. Real Growth Edges
Where is the line between self-doubt and the natural discomfort of evolving?Burnout, Moral Injury, and the Limits of Self-Care
When does burnout reflect personal habits, and when is it a systemic issue?Attachment Wounds in the Therapist
How do our own attachment histories shape the therapeutic relationship? -
Therapeutic Neutrality vs. Advocacy
Should therapists always remain neutral, or is advocacy sometimes necessaryWhen Therapy Becomes a Systemic Act
How do we work within (or against) systems that may harm the people we serve?Navigating Ethical Gray Areas
What do we do when professional guidelines don’t fully align with the complexities of real life?The Role of Privilege in Therapy
How do privilege, bias, and power dynamics shape the therapeutic relationship? -
The Art vs. Science of Therapy
How do we balance evidence-based practice with intuition and relational knowing?Transference, Countertransference, and the Therapist’s Blind Spots
What do our strongest reactions to clients reveal?The Role of Grief in Clinical Work
How do we hold space for collective and personal grief in the therapy room?Working at the Edge of Our Competence
When do we push through discomfort, and when do we refer out? -
Therapist Identity and the Pressure to “Perform” Expertise
How does professional identity shape (or limit) how we show up?Cultural Humility Beyond Buzzwords
How do we engage with difference without falling into performative allyship?Working with Clients Whose Beliefs Challenge Our Own
What do we do when a client’s values feel personally activating?Identity in Flux
How do we navigate and support clients whose identities are dynamic, multifaceted, and in constant evolution? -
The Evolving Therapeutic Relationship
How do we adapt to the ever changing needs of clients?Staying Relevant in the Face of New Therapeutic Models
What should we keep, what should we let go?Ethical Challenges in a Changing Society
How do we ethically navigate shifting norms and expectations in the therapy space?Professional Development in a Shifting Landscape
How do we stay engaged without losing your sense of self?
Thursday, April 17, 2025
1:30pm-3:00pm
Thursday, May 1, 2025
1:30pm-3:00pm
Thursday, May 15, 2025
1:30pm-3:00pm
Thursday, May 29, 2025
1:30pm-3:00pm
The Emotional Cost of Holding Space – How Do We Metabolize the Intensity of Our Work Without Absorbing It?
At the heart of our work as therapists is the ability to hold space for clients’ most profound struggles and healing processes. But how do we navigate the emotional toll of this responsibility without allowing it to consume us? This session dives into the complex realities of emotional presence and attunement, encouraging clinicians to reflect on the subtle balance between empathy and emotional over-investment. Through thought-provoking dialogue and mutual support, we’ll explore how to metabolize the intensity of therapeutic work, ensuring we remain grounded and sustainable in our practice.
Key Takeaways:
In-depth exploration of the emotional challenges inherent in holding space for clients.
Strategies for maintaining emotional boundaries while staying attuned and present.
Practical exercises to cultivate resilience and prevent emotional burnout.
Imposter Syndrome vs. Real Growth Edges – Where is the Line Between Self-Doubt and the Natural Discomfort of Evolving?
The journey of a therapist is one of continuous learning, but how do we distinguish between the self-doubt of imposter syndrome we all experience from time-to-time and the natural discomfort of growth? In this reflective session, we’ll challenge the conventional view of self-doubt and explore how moments of uncertainty can serve as powerful invitations for growth. We’ll engage in critical self-examination to identify when doubt is an opportunity to expand our clinical skills and when it becomes a hindrance to our authentic development. This session will empower you to embrace discomfort as a sign of evolution, rather than a source of paralysis.
Key Takeaways:
Reframing self-doubt as a tool for professional and personal growth.
Exploring the boundaries between imposter syndrome and growth edges.
Cultivating self-compassion and resilience in the face of vulnerability.
Burnout, Moral Injury, and the Limits of Self-Care – When Does Burnout Reflect Personal Habits, and When Is It a Systemic Issue?
Therapists are not immune to the very burnout we help our clients navigate, but the roots of this exhaustion are often misunderstood or not recognized from us until it’s too late. This session takes a deeper, systemic look at burnout—examining not just personal habits, but the structural forces within the therapeutic field that contribute to clinician fatigue. We’ll engage in critical dialogue around moral injury—the emotional toll of working in systems that challenge our ethical values—and explore why traditional individual self-care strategies may not be enough sometimes. Together, we will reflect on how to sustain ourselves as clinicians while also advocating for change within the systems we work in.
Key Takeaways:
A deeper understanding of the systemic factors contributing to clinician burnout.
Exploring moral injury and the ethical dilemmas that contribute to exhaustion.
Practical strategies for addressing burnout beyond traditional self-care methods.
Attachment Wounds in the Therapist – How Do Our Own Attachment Histories Shape the Therapeutic Relationship?
Our early attachment experiences shape how we relate to others—clients included. In this session, we’ll explore how our personal attachment histories influence our clinical work, from the way we manage boundaries to the way we form therapeutic alliances. Through critical self- reflection and shared insights, we’ll examine how attachment-related countertransference can arise in the therapy room, and how we can navigate these dynamics to foster healthier, more effective relationships with clients. This session offers an opportunity to bring awareness to the ways our own wounds can inform, but not undermine, our practice.
Key Takeaways:
Understanding how our attachment styles influence our clinical approach and relationships.
Identifying and managing countertransference related to personal attachment wounds.
Techniques for strengthening the therapeutic alliance through attachment awareness