In this episode of the Colleague Down the Hall Podcast, Jeanene Wolfe is with Becca Ferguson. Becca shares her journey into working as a therapist, her experiences navigating challenges as an LPC, and her transition from ministry to the therapy profession. Jeanene and Becca talk about building sustainable practices, especially amid the ongoing impact of the pandemic on mental health professionals. They dive into financial challenges therapists face and the taboo around earning money from other therapists, along with Becca’s documentation course aimed at helping therapists streamline their clinical work. The episode highlights the value of Therabundle, a resource supporting therapists globally, and Becca's experience with the community. 

 

“ I go through from the very beginning, the whole workbook is there where I walk through how to get people to understand, not only how to use your DSM to create a chief complaint, because that's one of the hardest things that I see people struggling with when it comes to an initial treatment plan. People don't understand how to properly back up a diagnosis in a chief complaint. And so when you go or if you ever have to go to court, they say, I don't want to be mean in my notes, and I'm like, fair, valid, okay, you don't want to be mean in your notes. We don't have to be mean in your notes. We want to protect the client in your documentation. Protect the client and protect your license.” - Becca

 

Key takeaways:

***Navigating Challenges in Private Practice: Becca discusses her journey into therapy work, the challenges she faced due to poor training in documentation, and the overall lack of supportive communities for interns and grad students in Arkansas. Becca advocates for therapists to prioritize their own mental health and embrace healing practices.

***Therapists Challenges: Jeanene and Becca discuss the taboo of therapists making money, advocating for fair compensation and sustainable business models in the profession. They explore the toll the pandemic continues to take on therapists, increasing workloads & emotional strain, and stress the importance of self-care and professional support. Becca highlights the lack of training in business management for therapists, sharing her journey toward strategic planning and effective financial management.

***Documentation and Course Creation: Becca’s  contribution to TheraBundle this year is a documentation course that helps therapists streamline their paperwork, safeguarding both their clients and licenses. Therabundle offers a wealth of resources, including Becca's documentation course, and sooo many other trainings, tools and resources.

 

About Becca Ferguson:

Becca Ferguson is a Licensed Professional Counselor, business coach for therapists, and the founder of The Therapy Office in Springdale, Arkansas. She helps mental health professionals build sustainable, growth-oriented businesses while staying true to themselves. As an ADHD creative and trauma survivor, Becca brings a unique, authentic approach to both therapy and business development. Known for her authenticity and drive for justice, Becca teaches others how to thrive without losing sight of who they are.

 

Connect with Becca:

Instagram: instagram.com/beccafergusonlpc

Facebook: facebook.com/beccafergusonlpc21

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/beccafergusonlpc

 

Ready to elevate your therapy practice? Discover valuable tools, resources, and insights with Therabundle! Learn more at https://therabundle.com/jeanene (affiliate link, time sensitive) and take the next step in building a sustainable, impactful career in therapy.

 

To get updates about future Fictionalized Clinical Consultation Groups: www.CollabOasis.com/FCC_live

 

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/