Therapist Spotlight: Working with the Transgender Community & Making the Most of Your First Job with Laura Thor
This Therapist Spotlight is a part of our interview series with experienced Mental Health Practitioners, where therapists share their experiences in Private Practice Therapy.
What was one of the biggest problems you struggled with and ultimately solved in the beginning of your private practice? What solution did you find to your (perhaps persisting) problem?
For me, when my niche was specialized, I did fine in private practice, by connecting with the one local support group and offering free talks.
What advice would you give to a budding mental health practitioner just getting licensed?
Do not open a private practice while you are green, and accept that you are, in fact, green for a long time. Seek a job in a mental health clinic and stick with it 5 or more years so you can learn from the diverse staff. In year 5, see a few clients on the side, in an office you rent by the hour. You get many benefits you will not get on your own in your office:
- Good supervision and consultation (Understand the difference.)
- Collegiality, on the spot debriefing.
- Education about the meds many of your clients will be taking: essential knowledge!!
- You will not make big money early in private practice, and even though salaries can be low in county clinics, you have liability insurance at no cost, an office, a support staff, a copying machine, safe storage of files, etc. Do not discount these benefits!
It worked for me!
What advice would you have given yourself early in your career?
Do not fail to learn your DSM-5, and find a way to keep up with medication news so you understand what clients are taking and how meds affect therapy and wellness. Even if you don’t like psychotropic therapy, many of your clients use them.And don’t hop on every new therapeutic technology. Learn enough to understand behavioral, CBT, humanistic, mindfulness, and psychodynamic theories even if you are wedded to only one, AND:
Do not be wedded to only one theory. You will mis-diagnose clients and risk mis-treating them.
Be not overwhelmed. Use supervision humbly, but avoid narcissistic supervisors at all costs.
Do not be wedded to only one theory. You will mis-diagnose clients and risk mis-treating them.
Be not overwhelmed. Use supervision humbly, but avoid narcissistic supervisors at all costs.
Do you see any persisting or upcoming problems in the private practice industry. If so, how do you handle them?
It is becoming harder to get on insurance panels, for one thing, yet, they pay at the same rate they paid in 1990. As the ACA gives and requires people to have insurance, you will be expected to accept it. (I still do not understand why panels can legally restrain our trade by saying a panel is closed! And why can’t NASW and APA get better fees.)
Please let us know about you: where are you located, any specialties, credentials, and educational background. How should someone get in touch with you?
I am an LCSW with 25-years in the field, in suburban Denver, with a Doctor of Ministry too.
I have been working with gender dysphoric, transgender people since 1994, and provide supervision, consultation, spiritual retreats, and write on this group of clients (Dignity USA soon; I have an article in the spiritual direction journal called “Presence.”).I work with secular transgender clients too, of course, and with secular cisgender clients.
I also treat clergy.My “first love” is working with people with religious and spiritual issues affecting, or being affected by, their mental health issues. I’m progressive (and LGBT-affirming) in my pastoral theology, and am competent with Christian and Jewish, and Catholic clients.Reach me at: Dr.Thor@laurathorcounseling.com 720-283-3933 sites:
www.laurathorcounseling.com
www.transgenderspiritcounseling.com
www.counselingforclergy.com
I have been working with gender dysphoric, transgender people since 1994, and provide supervision, consultation, spiritual retreats, and write on this group of clients (Dignity USA soon; I have an article in the spiritual direction journal called “Presence.”).I work with secular transgender clients too, of course, and with secular cisgender clients.
I also treat clergy.My “first love” is working with people with religious and spiritual issues affecting, or being affected by, their mental health issues. I’m progressive (and LGBT-affirming) in my pastoral theology, and am competent with Christian and Jewish, and Catholic clients.Reach me at: Dr.Thor@laurathorcounseling.com 720-283-3933 sites:
www.laurathorcounseling.com
www.transgenderspiritcounseling.com
www.counselingforclergy.com
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