In today’s episode of the Colleague Down the Hall podcast, Jeanene Wolfe speaks with Erin Hoffman who is back on the podcast to reflect on her first year in private practice. (See Episode 27 as she discusses getting started in private practice.) The episode delves into the complexities of running a solo private practice and the financial and administrative hurdles therapists face in private practice work. Erin discusses the critical role of boundaries in maintaining well-being, the significance of peer support, and the continuous need for growth as professionals. Together, they underscore the value of community, self-awareness, and ethical decision-making in adapting to the realities of private practice.

“If we don't fill our cups and we don't understand what leads to burnout, that is ultimately going to affect our clients. And the quality of work that they receive. I think I got a LinkedIn request from Better Help who offered me to see 40 clinical hours a week but what was so great about it is that I could make six figures, but hopefully in private practice, we're going to be taking a bigger income home. But there are just some things that I found out I'm not willing to do, like, I would be miserable seeing that many clients per day. So I think like when you said, we have to really be aware of our needs because we are the product, like we are the tool, what we are providing is coming 110 percent from us, from our minds, from our energy levels, from our, you know, what we can serve as far as that goes, giving that to our clients.” - Erin Hoffman

In this episode, let’s talk about:

***Balancing Personal and Professional Lives: Therapists often face blurred lines between their personal and professional lives and needing to navigate this. 

***The Necessity of Boundaries: The importance of time management and learning to say no to clients to avoid burnout and maintain the quality of therapy.

***The Importance of Peer Support: Connecting with colleagues and building a supportive network is critical to managing the challenges of private practice.

***Adapting to the Realities of Therapy: There are significant differences between the idealized view of therapy in graduate school and the actual practice, requiring flexibility and self-awareness.

***Managing Countertransference and Ethical Dilemmas: Therapists must be mindful of their own biases and emotions, particularly when navigating challenging client interactions and ethical practices.

***Building a Supportive Community: The importance of sharing experiences and learning from peers, underscoring the importance of kindness and support within the therapeutic community.

About Erin Hoffman:

Erin is an LCPC in Illinois and specializes in working with adults who had the experience of an emotionally unavailable parent or caregiver in childhood. I practice through a trauma informed lens and include focus on both the mind and body as teammates in the healing process.

Connect with Erin:

Website: www.elhtherapy.com

Connect with Jeanene:

*Get your free Four Keys to Private Practice Peace of Mind workbook: https://collaboasis.com/4keysworkbook

*Learn more about clinical consultation groups: https://collaboasis.com/

*Join my free therapist Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/oasispcgt

*Connect on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/jeanene-wolfe-lcsw-64042220a/