Private Practice: Myths, Tips, & Boundaries

1) Relationship Building 2) Private Practice Building 3) Trauma Informed Skill Building

Those are the three (3) content areas for The Timeless Therapist monthly newsletter.

1) Relationship Building

• It's a HOW, not a WHAT
• Active Listening
• Leadership Skills
• T.I. Marketing
• Content Writing/Creating
• Trust & Authenticity

2) Private Practice Building

• Effects of Burnout
• Health Insurance BS
• Compassionate Self-Care
• PP Start-Up Info
• Setting Boundaries

3) Trauma Informed Skill Building

• It's a HOW, not a WHAT
• Active Listening
• Leadership Skills
• T.I. Marketing
• Content Writing/Creating
• Trust & Authenticity

Together, these 3 main topics comprise my Subject Matter Expertise in terms of trauma informed skills outside of clinical practice. I'm active in 2 practice communities to continually learn and grow in my trauma informed leadership skills.

Last quarter was all about relationships! This quarter we're going to dive into Mental Health Providers, Entrepreneurship and Trauma Informed Leadership.

This month's edition is focusing mostly on Mental Health Private Practice

And you're still gonna get some great wellness tips!

HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT ABOUT STARTING YOUR OWN PRIVATE MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICE?

PROS

• Choose your own clients
• Make your own schedule
• Increased flexibility
• Decreased risk of Burnout
• Higher earning potential
• Career longevity
• Work/life balance
• Less stress
• Increased productivity
• More life satisfaction
• More work satisfaction
• Choose your colleagues
• Am I missing anything?

CONS

• No business education
• Unsure where to start
• Fears about income
• No Health/Dental benefits
• No team/agency
• Potentially more work
• Legal concerns
• Safety concerns
• Unknown start-up cost
• No PTO
• No back-up
• Sure, there might be more BUT...

Let me tell you, I was worried about all the cons, too. 8 years ago when I started on this journey for myself.

However, after doing it for 8 years, making a profit, without ever hiring a lawyer or business coach, the cons are MYTHS!

Some of the biggest Private Practice Myths...debunked!

1) It costs a lot to start a business/practice.

• Nope! Especially if you choose to be virtual-only

2) It's always variable instead of fixed income.

• Nope! I pay myself the same salary every month

3) It's a lot more work than being in an agency.

• Nope! After nearly 9 years in public mental health, I wouldn't trade being in PP for a million bucks!

4) There's no paid time off.

• Welp. You got me there. There isn't PTO. But, you'll make so much more, you can plan for time off, I take off 4-6 weeks/year

5) I can't handle a crisis without team/agency support.

• False! You only need to know how to triage, and I can help with that! And there is support for you, you just have to curate it.

Working in Private Practice has improved my quality of life over the past 8 years. Let me tell you how...

1) Choosing when to start my day

• I am NOT a morning person. I need 3-4 hours after wake up before I feel comfortable conversing with other humans. I do not schedule client sessions before 10:30am/11am for this reason. No more getting to work at 8am or 8:30am which means I have time for me in the morning. This schedule works so much better for my mental and physical wellness.

2) Choosing my own clients & managing my schedule

• Central scheduling did not work for me. I know my clients and know which ones I don't mind having back to back and which I prefer to space out. This helps manage my energy and capacity. Also, finally being able to niche down a bit, I no longer have to work with personality disorders, unless I so choose. The freedom to choose my own clients has allowed me to 1. feel confident 2. enjoy my caseload 3. feel less drained.

3) More money than in my last agency job

• After almost 9 years of experience, with a license, after 3 years, 3 COLA raises, and 1 performance-based raise, I was still making under $50k/year. Which honestly is disgusting to me at this point. We are worth so much more! I digress. However, in my first full year in PP, I just about doubled my gross salary, and my caseload was about 25% smaller than at my previous clinician job. It finally felt ALIGNED. Me, my work, my passion for work, my clients, and my life & job satisfaction all became much more aligned.

What do all 3 perks of the PP job have in common?

BOUNDARIES!

That's right! The #1 thing starting my own private practice has afforded me: ability to set and keep boundaries that make sense for me and my overall wellness. This was NOT available to me when working for others in agency positions.

?Boundaries around times I work best.

Boundaries around emotional and physical limits.

Boundaries around skill and competency.

Boundaries around my worth and value.

Boundaries around the Social Work code of ethics.

?And the times I did say, "No, I don't have capacity for that" really didn't matter. Any of you out there in healthcare likely know what I'm talking about here! The lack of consideration for the PROVIDER in these positions really grinds my gears. I absolutely hate this for us! We deserve to be treated better. However, the system is what it is right now and no one person can change the whole damn thing, so let's move outside the traditional 'job' box and consider entrepreneurship. Your health and wellness should NEVER be compromised because of work. Period. That's my stance, anyway. Historically, and currently, social workers, counselors, therapists, mental health providers, have been over-worked, under-paid, and under-valued to a gross degree.

But it doesn't have to be that way!

If you feel EXHAUSTED. DISSATISFIED. DRAINED. And you're barely making enough to cover the bills, it's time to exit stage left, right, and center and embark on a new journey. One that will give you what you need in terms of balance and income.

If you want to learn more about Private Practice Start-Up, you can access a few options with me.

• 1:1 Consultation to develop a plan to launch your practice
• Choose a Private Practice Package for tailored guidance on all the ins and outs of starting a MH Private Practice. Learn more here
• Consider purchasing my Therapist Private Practice Start-Up Bundle. You can learn more in this month's FREEBIE! See below.

If you want to learn more about Compassionate Self Care, you can access a few options with me.

• 1:1 Coaching to help you realize your goals and your potential
• Consider purchasing one of my Compassionate Self Kits
• Consider joining my monthly Support Group for Mental Health Providers: Refill Your Cup! Drop in once, or come by every month!

CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS!!!        

• Are you ALREADY a private practice owner?
• Do you LOVE your business?
• What would help you LOVE your business even more?

If you are looking for some interesting CEUs, consider this UNIQUE training opportunity:

Love Your Business: Increasing Capacity and Aligned Practices as a Business Owner <-- Click Here to register!

• Facilitated by a powerhouse trauma informed social worker
• Check out Nicole Lewis-Keeber's website to learn more about her amazing work

Ok, LEADERS out there...        

Do you embody the skills and practices of Trauma Informed Leadership?

Hello! I'm a Dynamic Trauma Informed Professional-- at your service :)

Leadership today barely has any checks & balances. There's no accountability for poor decision-making...or the negative impact those decisions may have on the people they lead.

?If you want to be inclusive...be accepting...reduce harm...and maintain, or increase, productivity, then Trauma Informed Leadership is for you. Schedule a discovery call!

In addition to healthy self-care and healthy relationship development, I am passionate about healthy workplaces (especially for mental health providers) and healthy leadership development. I'm Dare To Lead Certified (Brene Brown's Leadership Program) and Certified in Trauma-Informed Space Holding (Katie Kurtz's CULITVATE Program), as well as, a vetted Subject Matter Expert for two Trauma-Informed Practice Communities--which means 1) learning 2) understanding fully and then 3) applying/demonstrating trauma-informed skills in real time with real people, including my psychotherapy clients, coaching clients, professional relationships & partnerships, & collaborations.

I have the training, the community, and the self-awareness about doing my own work ongoing to be an effective Trauma Informed Leader, and I can help you do the same. If you want to be on the foundational edge of a new wave of leadership, then schedule your free consult call and let's learn and grow together...to make a trauma informed future...for all of us.

And! I've developed a Guide to get you started! This digital download product is a 20+ page guide (with exercises for practice!) in understanding and APPLYING trauma informed leadership skills. For just $49 you can begin your path to better leadership! Click Here

This month's blog post: Why it's a good idea to consider entrepreneurship if you're a mental health provider.

Read Here!

NEW MERCH STORE!        

Thrive & Shine has officially OPENED their Red Bubble storefront! Find fresh & new, and tried & true products designed with positive mental health and self-view in mind. Access store by clicking button below. Thanks for supporting my small business endeavors! Click Here

Affiliate Products

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• Helps manage panic/anxiety
• Use code: Thrive 15 for 15% off your purchase
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• Less Distraction
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• Enjoy the concert
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• created to open up the conversation around mental illness and?help remove all shame, negativity, and?guilt that our society has attached to it.
• Use Code: Shine15 for 15% off your purchase
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Sending you boundless good vibes, hoping for a healed heart, & wishing you a peaceful nervous system. Take care of yourself, first and always. ??-Sarah O'Brien        

**If you want the FREEBIES included each month, you have to SUBSCRIBE to The Timeless Therapist Newsletter directly on my website's homepage. You can find it here

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