I did not build my own private practice, but was lucky enough to join one that was created a year ago. I am still relatively new to working in private practice and it has surprised me how different it is from other therapist positions. A clinical issue that I have been thinking about a lot is how to balance making sure you are doing good clinical work, but also retaining your clients. As we all know, being a good clinician can mean pushing our clients to confront issues that can make them feel uncomfortable. This can sometimes be anxiety provoking when I consider that I want to keep my clients’ business. What has helped me work through this is to make sure that I continue to have strong relationships with other clinicians and seek supervision about this anxiety. I also continue to remind myself that my number one responsibility is to be a good therapist for my clients.

I would advise new clinicians to build strong relationships with other clinicians and take advantage of any and all supervision opportunities. Working in mental health is very stressful and can feel isolating as family and friends often don’t understand the demands of the work. Having support and guidance while doing this work is invaluable!

I would advise myself to be open minded about working with all populations. You really never know what your niche will be until you try! I would say that it is also important to remember to develop skills that not only help you specialize, but also allow you to continue to be versatile. Mental health is an ever changing field and it’s important to keep up!

I think an ongoing problem in the private practice industry is remaining competitive, especially in a market like Chicago that is saturated with therapists. The Autism Family Center has a strong leadership team that meets on a bimonthly basis to discuss ways to improve and expand our services. I think it is essential to be having these conversations so we can offer our clients services that they want and need.

I work at Family Center Chicago as well as Autism Family Center located in Winnetka, IL. I am a Lead Therapist at the Centers. My specialties include: Autism Spectrum Disorders, social skills coaching, communication skills, anxiety related disorders, and working with clients who have experienced a traumatic event. I provide individual, couples, and family therapy. I have a Master of Arts in Counseling from Marymount University in Arlington, VA and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, IL. I can be reached at kjackson@autismfamilycenter.com or 847-386-7809.

The Autism Family Center is unique in that it highlights the importance of assisting the entire family that is impacted by Autism Spectrum Disorders. We take a multidisciplinary approach by providing applied behavioral therapy (ABA), talk therapy, play therapy, and family therapy. We also are providing a parent group called Parent with EASE: Explaining Autism with Support and Education that starts January 12, 2015.