A New Cycle
Landscape
10 Ways to Support Your Mental Health in 2024 - NY Times
State’s One-Size-Fits-All Philosophy a Poor Fit - CT Examiner
Biden Signs Defense Spending Bill Funding Psychedelic Research - Forbes
Lesson
Making the Jump: From Agency to Private Practice
Transitioning from agency work to launching your private therapy practice is a transformative and courageous step in your career. It represents a shift towards greater autonomy, where you have the freedom to define your therapeutic style, cater to your preferred client demographic, and establish a practice that aligns with your personal and professional values.
Reflect on the valuable experiences gained in the agency setting. Recognize the diversity of clients you've worked with and the expertise you've developed. These insights will serve as a strong foundation as you navigate the transition to private practice.
Ensure a smooth shift by attending to the practical aspects. Confirm that you have all necessary licenses and certifications, understand legal and ethical obligations, and establish a solid financial plan. Assess your financial preparedness for the transition period and initial setup costs.
Leverage your understanding of client needs and community dynamics to define your target audience. Tailor your marketing strategies to effectively reach and resonate with this audience. This can be done by drawing on the unique strengths you've cultivated during your agency work.
Networking becomes key as you transition. Cultivate connections with other mental health professionals, community organizations, and potential collaborators. These networks can offer support, referrals, and valuable insights as you establish your private practice.
Recognize that this transition is not just a change in workplace, but a profound shift toward professional independence. Embrace the challenges and opportunities for growth that come with running your own practice. It's a journey that allows you to make a direct and meaningful impact on the lives of your clients while forging a path that reflects your vision for an enriching and fulfilling therapeutic career.
Life
Death isn’t the opposite of life. Death is the opposite of birth.
An uncomfortable truth I’ve come to tolerate is that death does not mean the end. It simply signifies the end of a cycle - and the soon start of another one.
My apartment is covered in plants. I couldn’t tell you the biological names or classifications of any of them.
I really don’t care. I gave them my own names.
Bradford.
Killer T.
Lucia.
Ryan Jr.
I water my plants weekly and provide them with lots of sunlight. My windows face the west which provides a soft glow that paints my walls orange every evening at dusk. If you ask anyone close to me, they would say that Ryan’s plants have a pretty good life.
Their growth impresses me and brings me to emotion. Watching Vine Rhames, my crown jewel, drape from my walls, hooking around the metal fasteners I’ve installed to keep pace with his long, dangling growth, is nothing short of a natural marvel. Like a springy, green child, pulling out a measuring tape every few weeks to see the latest height he’s reached. Early on in my plant parenthood, it would kill me to pick the dead leaves off of him, along with the others. I felt I failed. It made me question my methods - was I watering too much? Too little? Correct sunshine? Pot the right size? Some of my succulents would really rot away - what once were juicy bulbs programmed to store water became flaky whispers.
But what became obvious to me - in gutting my succulents, snapping off the dried out pedals, cutting the dead ties - is that these plants must die.
Parts of them anyway.
They shed their outer skins and make room for regeneration. I withstood some initial panic as a new plant father, but learned how necessary this purge was week to week.
Death must occur to make space for growth.
For the loss, change, and disruptions in your life: these are signals of the beginning of a new cycle.
Good luck and get excited.