Today marks my first anniversary in my private practice — full-time! This year has been quite the wild ride. I am so, so grateful to have spent the chaos of 2020 in my own practice, where I was able to decide for myself how I wanted to handle COVID-19 and social justice issues.
While my personal life and my external world have spent the last year on a roller coaster ride, I feel on Cloud Nine with my professional life. I was unsure of what to expect when I decided to officially make the leap into full-time private practice. I decided to make some sacrifices, like downsizing to a studio apartment and tightening the purse strings, in order to relieve any financial stress in the first year of being in business for myself.
You know what I didn’t have to sacrifice though?:
- Sleep
- Self-care
- Creative endeavors
- Yoga/exercise
- Reading time
- Self-Expression
- Authenticity
- Physical health and wellness
- Clients’ physical health and wellness
- Continuing Education
- Relationships
- Skill-set
- Clients’ treatment and therapy journey
I cannot emphasize to you enough how awful I felt while working at a community mental health agency and how much better I feel now. Many tried to scare me away with the idea of how difficult it is to be “alone” in a practice. I have actually never felt more connected to the therapeutic community in Phoenix and beyond. Honestly, all of the scare tactics that were used to try and keep me under someone else’s thumb have just not come to fruition at all. Nice try, though.
Some highlights from this year:
- Setup a beautiful office space at Urban Wellness for myself and clients
- Started a monthly networking event for Latinx Therapists – initially based in Phoenix but now includes others throughout the US
- Connected and created bonds with really wonderful Latinx Therapists locally and in other states
- Joined Cancer Support Community AZ to facilitate their monthly Multiple Myeloma Learn and Support Group
- Started writing this blog, where I am able to express myself without censorship and flex that creative writing muscle
- Had a consultation with my idol, Irvin Yalom
- Presented a discussion with Dr. Ana Sierra on Microaggressions
- Moved my practice online and setup an even more beautiful home office
- Began engaging in a Therapist Training Process Group
- Started a virtual Teacher Support Group
- Been asked to present on Anxiety for different organizations
- Thoroughly enjoying working from home and getting all the cat snuggles in between sessions
I love the autonomy that comes with having my own business. I am grateful to not be hounded about productivity numbers, not dealing with the BS insurance companies require, setting my own schedule, and most importantly, choosing my own clients. I’m so thrilled by how well this first year has gone and I cannot wait to see what’s in store for me and Therapy Girl LLC. I’ve already got some plans for exciting things to come!
Pre-Covid Office 
Latinx Therapists Networking Group 
Home Office with Intern Banksy
I am deeply appreciative of all of the support I have received from my family, friends, clients, colleagues, social media followers, etc. I wouldn’t be feeling this successful and fulfilled a year into private practice without all of you! ¡Gracias por todo!
