The Modern Therapist's Survival Guide with Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job
How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job
An interview with Patrick Casale, LCMHC, LCAS, about how impostor syndrome and other barriers can get in the way of therapists moving forward into private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Patrick about what it takes to make the leap from negative work situations and become a “therapist wizard.” We also look at lots of creative ideas on how to step into fear to confront impostor syndrome as well as how to build a private practice that’s right for you.
It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.
Interview with Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC, LCAS
Patrick currently works as a private practice coach and strategist and private practice owner. He lives in Asheville NC with his wife Ariel and two dogs, Hudson and Hazel. He’s worked in the helping profession since 2008. In the last 12 years, he’s worked in several different arenas in community mental health. From a qualified professional to the program director, he found himself constantly being promoted to middle management roles where he was able to see both sides of the coin. It was hard watching his staff work so hard for so little while trying to appease the powers that be who typically were out of touch with day-to-day operations. He has worked full time as a private practice therapist for the last three years. In those three years, he’s traveled to 8 different countries, taken lots of vacations, grown his business to a point where it feels easy and routine, and has helped other therapists in the area do the same.
In this episode we talk about:
- The ideas around impostor syndrome and how it impacts therapists
- Common mistakes therapists make when moving from community mental health to private practice
- How therapists can consistently negatively evaluate their own competence
- Entrepreneurial anxiety and missteps based on lack of confidence
- The early messages and attachment issues that impact self-esteem, perception of competence
- Embracing fear to move forward, accepting that mistakes are inevitable
- Vulnerability and authenticity, perfectionism
- Taking power back through making impostor syndrome playful
- Looking at how different identities are impacted by “impostor syndrome”
- Conflicting and negative messages that therapists get
- Entitlement and pessimism from more seasoned clinicians
- Abundance versus scarcity mindset
- How to become a therapist wizard
- Moving from an agency to private practice
- The danger of staying in an agency when you’re at the point of no return
- The lack of specific numbers or exact instructions on when you should make the leap
- The importance of networking when building a private practice
- Ideas for overcoming anxiety and still move forward on starting your private practice
- The importance of having an exit plan and steps in place
- Making decisions on what is needed versus what is desired, what values can be considered
- The goals that are possible once you move into your own private practice
- Creativity in how you set up your practice
- Understanding what you need to set yourself up for success
Resources mentioned:
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