Mentor Moments

About Mentor Moments

Welcome to Mentor Moments, the podcast where distinctive lives shape the individuals we become. Join us for engaging counseling conversations that delve deep into personal journeys while focusing on pressing professional issues. In this season of Mentor Moments, we're honored to feature remarkable individuals who not only introduce you to the world of rehabilitation counseling but also tackle current topics and issues that matter. Each episode invites you into the minds of our guests as they share their unique perspectives.

Publisher

Michael Kiener, Brayton Wooters

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

12 Oct 2021

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

80 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   Career Paths Aren't Linear, and That's Good News (MM Rewind)

   Elizabeth Perkins shares the career decisions, mentors, and experiences that shaped her 20-year journey in vocational rehabilitation—and the leadership lessons that keep her challenging the system to help more people thrive. From her early days supporting customers at UPS to becoming coordinator of programs for Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation, Elizabeth reflects on the moments that drew her toward counseling, opened the door to leadership, and sparked her passion for advocacy, inclusion, and community partnership. If you care about disability employment, career development, or leading with purpose, this conversation will resonate. In this episode, you’ll hear about: How an unexpected path through psychology, HR, and counseling led Elizabeth into vocational rehabilitation Why one participant’s “dream job” in a junkyard became a turning point in how she tells the VR story The leadership qualities she values most: adaptability, authenticity, collaboration, and genuine relationships How transformational and authentic leadership shape her decisions Why she stays current through boards, training, advocacy, and ongoing feedback The mentorship advice that still guides her: “Don’t let boundaries limit your imagination” Elizabeth also discusses normalizing disability, embracing diverse perspectives, and asking a question every professional should revisit: What is your why? Her answer is a reminder that meaningful work comes from staying rooted in purpose and showing up for the people you serve. Timestamps 00:00 — Welcome to Mentor Moments and introduction to Elizabeth Perkins 00:31 — Elizabeth’s role with Missouri Vocational Rehabilitation 00:49 — From psychology and UPS to considering counseling and HR 01:46 — Choosing graduate school and discovering vocational rehabilitation 02:43 — Two decades with the agency: from counselor to leadership 03:10 — Why direct counseling work was her favorite job 04:07 — A participant’s dream job and the power of competitive employment 05:01 — Using video to tell participant and employer stories 05:51 — Building partnerships across schools, providers, workforce, and family support 06:49 — Career happenstance and the theory of planned happenstance 08:58 — Why adaptability, trust, genuineness, collaboration, and innovation matter 11:47 — Staying relevant in a changing field and updating old systems 13:17 — Why collaboration and partnerships matter more than silos 15:39 — Transformational leadership and authentic leadership 17:31 — Being solution-focused and challenging legacy processes 18:40 — Wanting to be part of the solution and drive change 19:26 — How boards, advocacy, training, and feedback help her stay current 23:46 — Mentors who opened doors 26:31 — “Don’t let boundaries limit your imagination” 27:31 — What inspires her about serving people directly 29:17 — Encouraging diversity, inclusion, and authentic self-expression 30:39 — Normalizing disability and sharing lived experience 33:07 — Knowing your “why” and keeping it visible 34:41 — Closing thanks and listener call to actionAction items

2. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Why Talk Therapy Hits a Wall Without the Body ft. Amy Turk, MA, LPC

   Amy Turk reveals why talk therapy and EMDR can hit a wall, and how yoga, somatic work, and movement-based healing can unlock relief that insight alone sometimes can't. Amy opens up about the evolution of her practice, from private practice therapist to founder of a new Webster collective that blends counseling with yoga and somatic dance. She explains why she began looking beyond traditional therapy, what changed when she pursued yoga teacher training, and how that training reshaped both her own anxiety and the way she supports clients. You’ll discover: Why somatic therapy matters when the mind understands but the body still feels stuck How EMDR and talk therapy can help, and where their limits can show up Why yoga is more than a coping skill and can function as a true healing art How somatic dance uses body keys, movement, and feeling to release shame, guilt, and fear Why group classes, routines, and community can make healing more sustainable We also dig into the practitioner side of growth, lifelong learning, and what it means to keep evolving when your current tools are no longer enough. Our conversation gets honest about burnout, resistance, and the challenge of inviting clients into something deeper than a quick fix. If you work in the helping professions, support athletes, or are simply curious about the mind-body connection, this episode offers a fresh, practical lens on healing that is both compassionate and concrete. It’s a reminder that lasting change often starts when we stop treating the body like an afterthought. Perfect for therapists, counselors, coaches, and anyone ready to explore what happens when healing moves beyond the talk. Timestamps 00:00 - Welcome back and Amy’s new Webster practice 00:41 - Amy’s background in rehab counseling and recovery settings 01:41 - Why she began looking for somatic approaches 03:25 - Mike’s idea of the scholar-professional and lifelong learning 05:19 - A full-circle moment with EMDR training 06:09 - How EMDR works and where its limits can show up 08:17 - How yoga shifts attention from the mind to the body 09:45 - Flow state, exercise, and why movement matters 11:30 - Yoga as more than a coping skill 12:52 - Why yoga teacher training changed everything 14:24 - Getting clients to buy into yoga and somatic work 16:55 - Teaching as nurture, not performance 18:12 - Process over outcome in habits and movement 19:51 - Solo yoga, group classes, and community energy 21:29 - What somatic means in therapy 23:01 - Somatic dance and how it differs from general exercise 25:41 - Why some clients stay stuck even after insight 26:17 - Working with childhood trauma in private practice 27:56 - How nutrition, sleep, and movement support the mind 29:57 - Applying the ideas to student athletes and resistant clients 33:35 - What private practice ownership looks like now 34:34 - Building a collective and expanding the space 35:53 - Local yoga and somatic training shoutouts 37:24 - Advice for helping professionals

3. 

   1 Sept 2026

   Tissue Ethics, Autonomous Cars, & Fall Semester Goals

   Season six opens with a real conversation about the work, the weird, and the deeply human moments that shape both counseling and athletics. If you care about student mental health, grad school life, or the unexpected ethical questions that can change how you practice, this catch-up episode is for you. Dr. Kiener shares what it looks like to step back into the school year with a full slate of classes, practicum students, and cohort energy, while Brayton breaks down the reality of screening NCAA athletes across multiple teams and the pressure, patterns, and caseload demands that come with it. Along the way, the conversation also touches on higher ed shifts, NCAA changes, and the messy intersection of ethics, identity, and performance. It’s insightful, funny, and refreshingly honest - the kind of episode that reminds you how much of good counseling starts with asking better questions. Perfect for counselors, counselor educators, students, and anyone who likes their professional conversations grounded in real life instead of theory alone. Season six is here, and it’s starting strong. 00:00 Welcome and Episode Introduction 00:07 Summer Recap: Personal Projects and Family 01:11 Visiting Coach Denny and Cookie Story 02:16 Retirement and Continued Involvement of Coach Denny 03:03 First Week of Classes and Student Engagement 07:36 Ethical Dilemma: Giving Tissues in Counseling 09:54 Cultural and Personal Factors in Counseling Behavior 12:34 Reflections on Cultural and Family Influences 13:31 Cohort Trends and Student Interests 15:11 First Week Activities at Lindenwood 17:51 Mental Health Screenings for Athletes 21:55 Professional Development and Certifications 22:58 Upcoming Workshops and Goals 23:27 Personal Life: Car Shopping and Technology 25:50 Closing Remarks and Future Plans

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

954

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

10 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

42

Social presence

0

YouTube

64

Engagement

71

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Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.