Tag Archives: private practice

One Year on … Looking back at my first full year in private practice

Paual Fowle 23 March 2022

Things I have learnt…

To trust myself – Its OK to have a wobble it doesn’t mean that all is lost. By digging deep, I found the confidence to believe in me and my ability.

Have a small good support network – I have found working in private practice can be tough sometimes so having a good team around me made up of an excellent Supervisor along with a Business Mentor have worked wonders. I have had ready access to clinical advice when needed and also a helping hand to clarify business matters when I have not been sure. Being invited to join Baines-Ball & Associates by Luan Baines-Ball following an introduction by Dr Mish Seabrook was a privilege.  The support and guidance from my peer group has been invaluable. The Saturday morning team meetings and CPD have been great to be part of. The opportunity to deliver a CPD session was something I had hoped I would do but being among my peer group soon enabled me to put all of my fears on one side.

Only to do what I am comfortable with – I have only picked up the work that I am comfortable with and feel competent to cope with. It would have been easy to pick up everything that has come my way but it has been important to me to feel safe in the knowledge that I am supporting my clients as ethically as I am able keeping us all safe. I have learnt and feel comfortable to now say no.

Only to retain what I need from the past – I carried with me a lot of experience from previous roles that have helped me develop into the therapist that I am today. The experiences that were tricky I have processed and learnt to let go.

Look after me, only I know what I need to succeed – I had a plan of how I wanted my Private Practice to evolve and what I wanted it to look like going forward. I wondered how it would feel that it was all down to me but I can say it is empowering to know that each time I welcome a new client into my therapy room together we begin a new journey. Some have been tough, but to sit alongside someone who is comfortable in my company as they grapple what is going on for them has been amazing so far.

It’s OK to take time out – This was a biggie for me at the start I didn’t want to take my foot off the pedal in case I missed something. What I learnt very quickly was in order for me to be on the top of my game I needed to rest. Invaluable support from my yoga teacher Helen Braithwaite @Benndyoga has taught me so much about looking after me. My two gorgeous Golden Retrievers have let me know when its time to take a break and we have enjoyed many reflective walks together.

It’s been a tough year. Losing my Best Friend following her brave battle with cancer in October has rocked me to the core but I have learnt from that experience too. Ann has inspired me to continue with the work that I do.

I guess the biggest thing that I have leant is that in life shit happens …. Its up to me how I deal with it and bounce back.

I take inspiration from a book that sits in my Therapy room and also in my Office called The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy. The quote that comes to mind as I close my reflection is ‘When the dark clouds come …. Keep going, when the big things feel out of control, focus on what you love right under your nose, This storm will pass…..

Onwards and upwards, looking forward to another new year ..

Where has the time gone?

This week we are celebrating 10 years since moving the practice from our Wigston premises into the Leicester building we now inhabit. Where has the time gone? In one sense it doesn’t seem very long ago since we stood in an empty room assessing how we could make it into a comfortable therapy space, and, in another sense it’s a lifetime ago.

We (colleague Mish and myself) had a vision for the building: that room by room we would take over the building until one day we had access to the whole building as a counselling, psychotherapy, supervision and training centre with a reputation for our inclusive practice.

In those early days we battled with noise from other offices; unrelated work often jarred with us but we persevered. A couple of years in and we got the opportunity to expand into a second room. It felt too soon so we let the moment pass, unsure if we’d get another opportunity. It spurred us on to be better prepared the next time. Sure enough a few months later the same opportunity came by and we snapped it up. We were up and running. Subsequently, each time another room became available we took it, even if we didn’t quite feel ready for it.

There were many stressful moments especially during the middle section where we wondered if we’d taken on more than we could handle.  With a lot of hard work and determination we eventually took over all six rooms and could claim the building as ours. It immediately felt like a safer space knowing that it was completely ours, private and containing. No unexpected loud noises (at least on the inside!).

Challenges

The pandemic brought more challenges as therapists moved their work online at home. The building sat quiet and empty for months; we wondered if we’d survive. We used the opportunity of it being empty to get some much-needed maintenance done. We took risks and the team pulled together to keep us afloat.

For many months, once COVID restrictions allowed, I was a lone worker, oscillating between my shoe-box office at home to a six-room building in the city: it was a stark contrast! Whilst we are not yet quite back to the busy building we once had, we have several of the team now working from the building part-time and it’s a joy to be back working there with some friendly faces.

One of my high-school teachers told me I wouldn’t amount to much. I had internalised this and many other experiences that led me to think and feel that I couldn’t have any dreams let alone realise them. Aside from this being a most unhelpful and damaging comment from my teacher, she was wrong!

Ten Years!

So, as we celebrate our 10 years here, I am struck by the many challenges we have faced in that time. We have come through those challenges stronger. We have some battle scars, yes, but our resilience has remained intact. We have remained steadfast to our ethical principles even in the face of rejection and adversity.

We have received many blessings in these 10 years and I am truly grateful for them and for the oft unsung cheerleader at home without whose steady support to follow my dream I could not have achieved this.  

As a team, unsung cheerleader included, we are looking forward to a face-to-face celebration later in the year, COVID permitting.