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?
I think that one of the biggest struggles that I experienced in creating the practice was maintaining confidence while still building up a case load and trying to do my own marketing. Building a practice can be a slow, arduous process and patience is a necessity while gaining referrals and spreading the word of your services. Most graduate programs do not teach you how to market, they do not teach you how to build a business. You kind of learn as you go. There’s an element of risk and I think subsequent fear that comes with opening a practice, so second-guessing yourself is normal. One way that I was able to push through was to continue to dedicate several hours every day to the practice just like you would any other job, continuing to meet with my partner and communicate daily with him, and to be pro-active; collaborating with others to fill in the blanks in my knowledge base, and emulating marketing techniques that others who have been successful have used.
What advice would you give to a budding mental health practitioner just getting licensed?
I would advise budding mental health practitioners to, first and foremost, take care of yourself; there is a large potential for burn out, not only with the nature of the field but with the business end of things as well. We provide a service that is invaluable, but sometimes feels undervalued. Make self-care a priority. I would also nudge new clinicians to keep an open mind as far as career avenues they could pursue with their education. There are so many trajectories, different positions, different populations to work with, different sectors to work in. Have fun with it, be creative, take chances, stay updated, and network/collaborate as much as possible.
What advice would you have given yourself early in your career?
If I could talk to myself early in my career, I would have urged myself to keep an open mind about positions that are out there. I would have told myself to stay patient, and realize that the “perfect” job that you got into the field for is out there, but might take some time to realize. Try new things, work with different populations, and again, take care of yourself.
Do you see any persisting or upcoming problems in the private practice industry. If so, how do you handle them?
I’m not sure about upcoming problems on a macro level. Obviously, expanded healthcare and insurance has influenced the business, but I’m not sure how that will evolve with the future of the service. One issue that continues to permeate each treatment session is managed care; it seems to de-personalize the service provided to clients and presents ethical issues with regard to reimbursement for specific treatments, modalities, and results. Our office includes another therapist, Zofia Kozlowska who works with adults looking for skill building. Many are dealing with legal issues, life stressors, relationship conflicts or emotional management. We also recently became affiliated with Rocky Mountain Counseling and Wellness Center ( rmcwc.com ) where clients pay a one time membership fee of $75 dollars which affords you 6 months of access to our holistic services (including mental health counseling, family counseling, various massage therapies, reiki healing, hypnosis, and many more! )
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 have a Master of Arts in clinical mental health counseling from and Western Michigan University and hold a licensed professional counselor candidate credential from the state of Colorado. I work mainly with adults, but do offer services to adolescents. I work with people struggling with issues issues including, but not limited to depression, anxiety, addiction, life transitions, LGBTQ issues, axis II:personality disorders, emotional regulation and distress tolerance, and daily life struggles. My partner, Daniel McNicholas also offers services for people struggling with trauma, grief, and spiritual/existential issues, as well as performs reiki healing.
I have worked in an adolescent residential psychiatric hospital, led cancer support groups, worked in an inpatient rehabilitation center, and outpatient with clients on an individual and group basis.
Our office is located at 720 S. Kipling, suite 17, Lakewood, CO 80215. The office number is 720-336-4981. We can also be reached by email, at contact@elevationscounseling.org, or online at elevationscounseling.org .
