What Pilots can Teach Perfectioneurs

Pilots and Perfectioneurs have a lot in common. Pilots can serve as examples of Perfectioneurs. The archetype of pilots is often one of confidence, charisma, attention to detail, and assertiveness, placing them one step away from the steamrolling potential of overworked Perfectioneurs. 

Pilot or Perfectioneur?

·      Maintains attention to detail

·      Works long hours

·      Defines identity by what they do

·      Prefers jobs where they are in control 

Make no mistake, we absolutely want people who are driven and have attention to detail flying various aircraft. It is directly connected to our well-being and safety as passengers. We also want to know that the people selected to hold this responsibility are performing at their best. Fit for duty. Therefore it’s no surprise that Aviation Psychologist Dr. Paul Dicken’s guide for pilots to re-enter the workforce during COVID-19 has been downloaded 65,000+ times since its release! 

Being a licensed therapist married to a pilot, I was excited to interview Dr. Dickens as one of 11 Accredited Aviation Psychologists in the EU. His passion for this work was palpable over Zoom and we found ourselves in easy conversation on the similarities between pilots and perfectionists. It’s not surprising then, to recognize that his suggestions in the areas of physical, cognitive, emotional, and relational needs compliment the work-life balance criteria for many other professionals attempting to adapt during COVID-19.

Some recognizable tips from Dr. Dicken’s guide Cleared for Take Off! A Pilot’s Guide to Returning to Flyinginclude: 

·      Set sleep patterns and sleep hygiene rituals

·      Adopt an exercise regimen

·      Gear up for work mode through reading materials and visualization

·      Practice self-awareness to identify how you feel about returning to work

·      Prepare your family for the transition back to work

Meaningful and relevant, these tips apply to entrepreneurs, first responders, and perfectionists as well. Let’s take it a step further to see how pilots address psychological safety at all stages of flight, captured in the acronym IMSAFE and created by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Illness- Do I have any symptoms?

Medication- Have I taken any over the counter or prescription drugs?

Stress- Am I under psychological pressure from the job? Am I worried about financial problems, health problems, or family discord?

Alcohol-Have I been drinking within 8 hours?

Fatigue- Am I tired or not adequately rested?

Emotion- Am I emotionally upset?

What if we modified the IMSAFE acronym for people during COVID-19 in order to capture what we are tracking as mental health and wellness needs during this challenging time?

Illness- Do I have any symptoms of illness?

Medication- Do I take prescription or over the counter drugs? Do they pose any risk to my functioning? Are they helpful to my functioning?

Stress- In this time of unknown, what’s my current stress level? Does it fluctuate? When?

Alcohol- Am I drinking out of a desire to cope or fight boredom?

Fatigue- How tired do I feel? Am I getting enough sleep? Too much sleep?

Emotion- Am I aware of how I feel? Where do I fall on the spectrum between anxious and numb?

IMSAFE poses some important questions to ask ourselves as we attempt to adapt and change during COVID-19. Change is difficult, especially for professionals that covet feelings of being in control. Therefore pilots and the FAA have a lot to teach us about the importance of checklists to gauge our functioning since it’s subject to change. Perhaps we can consider checking in on our functioning with the IMSAFE acronym. Maybe the tips from Dr. Dicken’s guide can help individuals preparing to return to work. Either way, pilots have a lot to offer perfectionists including disarming resistance and normalizing the vulnerability of adjustment. It’s possible that these resources will pave the way for additional conversations on coping during COVID-19, allowing perfectionist pilots to be the role models of adaptive functioning and pivoting during a pandemic.

Connect with Dr. Dickens on LinkedIn

Check out Dr. Dicken’s full guide here.

See more tips for pilots with the IMSAFE protocol here.

Efficient is not an Emotion: The Risk to Romantic Relationships

My husband was talking about the joy of driving a vehicle he really likes. The experience of a horse-powered engine that purrs, a smooth ride over asphalt, and a car that can make one feel confident when in the driver’s seat. In an attempt to further involve me in the pleasure of it all, he’d asked me how I felt when driving my car. “Efficient,” I said. I didn’t even have to glance at his face to notice the joy deflating.

“Efficient is not an emotion,” he responded, “you know that.” He’s right. As a therapist, that was not an acceptable answer. What about for the Perfectioneurs and entrepreneurs out there? The ones that value streamlined efficiency, momentum, and driven purpose? To them, an efficient vehicle is satisfying in getting them from Point A to Point B. It permits them the creative energy for other meaningful pursuits. In an entrepreneurial mind, it’s not about sheer pleasure in the drive, it’s about the purpose of the drive.

Efficient: Achieving maximum productivity with minimum wasted effort or expense

Perfectioneurs can’t stand idleness or wasted energy and I recognize I was speaking as a restless, irritable, and annoyed person that day. It happens, we all have moods. I’d crushed the conversation with my matter-of-fact tone and lack of enthusiasm. It wasn’t the nicest response I could have given to my spouse’s bid for engagement. Instead, I could have engaged more thoughtfully and with more heart.

I’ve come to realize that the more I embrace my identity as a Perfectioneur, the more I notice my edges, flaws, and quirks. I don’t always get joy out of the same things my spouse does. I find myself ten steps ahead in the future, plotting, planning, and anticipating victory energy. So finding myself in what I thought was a casual conversation, my reaction was to be efficient, answering to move the conversation in another direction.

It’s one of the risks of being a Perfectioneur, steamrolling over others in an effort to support our own agenda. And it that moment, I needed to check myself to not be hurtful to the person I love. How many people out there are aware that they do this same thing? That we steamroll and control at times? We’ve all been guilty of treating our loved ones poorly at one time or another, a subconscious expectation that they will tolerate our mood swings and poor behaviors because they love us or care for us and so we let them have it. The day’s frustration gets dumped on them. In this case, my spouse walked into a trap he didn’t even realize was there. And it was my responsibility to repair the hurt my clipped response had created.

Efficient is not a coveted characteristic of romantic relationships.  

How’s your spouse doing? Efficiently. How’s the sex? Efficient. 

Wouldn’t we rather celebrate unique characteristics of our relationships? Perfectioneurs must learn to lean in to vulnerability to show up more authentically in each relationship they have. Relationships are an important part of balance and connection, therefore they deserve our attention and efforts to strengthen them. Here are some tips I’ve learned along the way to be a better partner to my spouse.

• Importance of Eye Contact: If we aren’t looking one another in the eye, are we sure that we have each other’s attention? Are we truly listening?

• Routine Check-Ins: Having a routine supports us asking about each other’s day and solidifies plans for the next day. It’s a time where we can be present and make plans together during the busy work week.

• Don’t Fix or Freeze: We were taught by a professional once to ask what the other person needs from the conversation. For example, if we were seeking advice, naming it helped our spouse prepare their response. If we just wanted to vent and have them listen, it was helpful to share this up front so they could stay present in the moment without the urge to fix it.

However you choose to navigate your relationship, just know that efficiency is not the goal. Relationships are messy! If you are lucky, they are playful, passionate, and loving too. So strive to be the healthiest Perfectioneur you can be and show up for your relationships. Celebrate others interests, connect on a deeper level, and invest in solid communication. Relationships are the glue that pave the way for creativity, so elect to sit this one shotgun and let your loved one drive. 

Ready to Expand? 3 Things to Consider When Growing Your Practice

A natural next step for an established clinician in private practice is to consider bringing on other professionals as part of their growth opportunity. Therapists may consider this option for a variety of reasons, including a desire to address their growing list of referrals, utilize office space more fully, or reinforce their brand. Moving to a group practice model is a process that is not for the faint of heart, so let’s take a look at some important things to consider before embarking on the process.

1.     Do you wish to take on Independent Contractors or Employees?

This is a vital first question because it dictates how you go forward with the process. If you were to take on Independent Contractors (ICs) for example, your hiring process and formal contract would emphasize their defined commitment to the practice, payment schedule, and marketing or referral expectations that fall within IC guidelines at both the Federal and State levels. In contrast, if you were to go with an employee model, you would need to be prepared to pay salaries, maintain office space and supplies, and offer retirement or healthcare packages based on recommendations by your attorney and CPA for this model. By asking this question first as it applies to your vision for practice growth, you will be able to refine your plan of action when taking on professionals for hire.

2.     Have you set up a business name with tax ID and group NPI?

Another piece to the puzzle of private practice growth is moving from a solo practitioner to a small business model. This includes having a business name and TAX ID form which to operate from, most likely established when you started your practice as a sole proprietor. A next step for group practice designation includes applying for a free group NPI which will link back to your business for billing and insurance paneling if that is part of your larger plan and working towards updating your records to reflect both TAX ID and NPI going forward.

3.     Do you have plans to take insurance in your group practice?

Speaking of bigger plans, are you hoping to credential your new hires with insurance panels for the services you provide? Identifying the process of adding clinicians to your existing contracts for each insurance panel could impact your timeline for new hire on-boarding and adaptation. Some insurance panels may take 1-2 weeks to update their records with your new hire information whereas others may take longer, which could impact your launch date or growth opportunity overall if too many obstacles exist.

These are just three of many questions to consider when exploring if a group practice model is right for you. There are dozens of things to consider including office space, health insurance, contracts, fee schedule, staff, and billing needs. Lots of moving parts that feel rewarding to owners who have made the move to group practice. Consider investing in training, consultation, or group practice conferences to learn more about the pros and cons of group practice ownership and leadership as they fit with your future goals. 

My Wish for You is More Victory Energy!

Like several couples during COVID-19, my spouse and I have attempted to decompress by watching a show or movie at the end of our work days. Winding down, we happened upon Keeping the Faith (2000) with Edward Norton, Ben Stiller, and Jenna Elfman. Recognizing that neither of us had seen this movie before, it was Jenna Elfman’s character Anna Reilly that I recognized instantly as a Perfectioneur. Anna worked in a corporate office, had confidence and pleasure in her work, and was attached to her cell phone, even going so far as to carry it on a garter while in an evening dress! She was driven. She was respected. She had opportunities to excel within her company. As the plot of the movie advanced, Anna eventually questioned if she worked too much, recognizing that she wanted time for a career and time for quality relationships.

Spoiler alert! Anna, as a healthy Perfectioneur, found she could have both a rewarding job and meaningful relationships! It was reassuring. It was a happy ending. And it was one concept Anna spoke about that really resonated with me as a fellow Perfectioneur. She was talking to the mother of her then-secret romantic partner when she said she wanted someone to share it all with. Share what? Her victory energy. Anna stated she wanted to share her victory energy with a partner at the end of her day. The energy created by accomplishing something so satisfying, it leaves one on an emotional high. Giddy with accomplishment. Energized with enthusiasm. Anna wanted celebrate it and share it with someone she loved. 

As a therapist and entrepreneur, I too want more victory energy. I too want to share it with the person I love. As a therapist, I can’t always share the clinical victories in having to maintain confidentiality. However, I can share the victories of being an entrepreneur of several growing businesses, celebrating creativity with purpose.  

Experience the Victories

The first step in having more victory energy is noticing it. Notice the potential for victory energy, encouraging it to grow stronger. Be self-aware enough to feel the warm fuzzies of it followed by enhancing the way it makes you feel. Find yourself stoking the ember of excitement into a solid flame that warms you from the inside out. You’ve felt this feeling before. For some, it’s the victory of winning at a sporting event. For others, it’s the pleasure you feel after getting great feedback, a promotion, or a new opportunity. It’s euphoric. It’s a rush. And it feels amazing.  Engage your five senses to express victory energy fully. What visuals do you associate with it? What smells? What sounds? Elevate the feeling by noticing it fully, so you don’t miss the chance to feel the pleasure of it.

Understand your Baseline

The challenge of victory energy is that it doesn’t last forever. As humans, we don’t get to feel that high consistently. Our body is structured to return to baseline, representing an average emotional state when absent of stimulation. In other words, you eventually have to come down from the high of victory energy, which can feel disappointing or painful. In fact, author of The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks would say we are prone to subtle self-sabotage to maintain the status quo. If we find ourselves moving into our “Zone of Genius”, what Gay Hendricks describes as our optimal zone for fulfillment, purpose, and happiness, it can be expected that something happens to bring us back to our “Zone of Excellence.” Perhaps due to disbelief that we achieved this higher level of functioning, discomfort at the change, or core beliefs stating that we don’t deserve great things. Hendricks gives examples of sabotage like picking a fight with our spouse after receiving good news, or getting ill after obtaining the job of our dreams. Regardless of how it manifests, it’s important to understand your subconscious reactions to victory energy in order to navigate the challenges and embrace the benefits.

Build your Gratitude Practice

Now that you’re fully aware of the feeling and how fleeting it can be, capture your victory energy in words as part of a gratitude practice. What are you grateful for? What were the contributing factors to foster this feeling? How can you download the experience further, forming it into a pleasant memory to be revisited again and again if desired? Perhaps you engage in a writing exercise to capture the moment. For Anna Reilly, she wanted to share it with someone in real time when making the memory. She wanted to amplify the good feelings of victory energy by feeling the excitement and pleasure of sharing it with someone else. Who would you share your victory energy with? How could their participation assist in keeping the positive feelings flowing and growing?

Victory energy, like gratitude, has the potential to be life-changing. Celebrating success without fear of being cocky. Naming gratitude so we can fully download the experience at a cellular level. However you embrace it, I wish you more victory energy. The powerful practice of mindfulness, gratitude, and connection with others. I wish you more victory energy so that you too can feel the rush of excitement. To feel fully alive. I wish you a happy ending like Anna’s. May your victory energy be plentiful and celebrated with all whom you love.

Getting on Google’s Guest List: SEO Strategies to Be Better Seen

Imagine Google as an A-Lister putting on the party of the decade. 

The whos-who are all invited, rubbing elbows with one another amidst good food and drink. No one wants to be left out. To earn an invitation to this party, you have to be part of the ‘in’ crowd. So how do you move from fangirl to favored guest?

How do you get on Google’s Guest List?

Moving to VIP status on Google’s guest list is all about Search Engine Optimization (SEO). Recognized as a valuable online strategy for businesses, SEO can feel like a foreign language that is constantly moving and changing. Its purpose is to help businesses and products be seen by community members, identifying relevant information to populate higher on the list of search results over competitors. 

Private practice therapists are working hard to be discovered online in order to serve more people in their business yet the costs alone for SEO services can feel restrictive and intimidating. You don’t have to have it all figured out, this can be a place to start! Regardless if you are an SEO expert or novice, there are some great resources available to clarify marketing strategies that can otherwise feel lost in translation. I encourage you to research SEO companies out there and hire support when identifying how your business needs to grow.

Holding ever-evolving strategies and limitations in mind, I hope the ideas here can serve as a jumping off point in your own business journey with SEO, specifically focusing on what you can do with your professional website.* 

 Ready to find your name at the top of their list? 

 As the powerhouse search engine millions of people choose to use, Google’s pages represent the guest list that every business wants to be on.

 Google makes its own rules. It sets its own algorithms and expectations for how it wants to feature the billions of data points and businesses found on the internet. Winning Google over is a strategy worth considering. So what is Google tracking in website design that you can use to your advantage to become part of the ‘in’ crowd?

 Google wants to know that your website is active and up to date. Google doesn’t like websites that have been dormant for months, instead rewarding websites that have new information added or updated in a timely fashion. Here are some specific strategies that can help your website get one step closer to being on Google’s good side.*

Strategy #1 Update Videos and Pictures

 Google loves videos and pictures listed on your website. They don’t even have to be professionally done. Consider creating and updating media monthly, adding something new or rotating out featured videos and photos to keep Google and potential visitors interested. 

Pro Tip: Embed your videos on your website with links via YouTube and other video platforms to make changing up video content a five-second task!

Strategy #2 Have a Google Map and Business Listing

Google is the A-lister who holds all the meaningful connections remember? So give it something it likes in order to earn you an invite to rub elbows with other superstars—a Google Business Listing and Google Map location of your office! Create your listing with Google Business followed by creating a Google Map Link to embed within your website. This helps potential clients find you when searching your name or the name of your business online. You may have noticed that Google Business search results populate in the top right corner of the internet browser, including customer reviews, website link, and phone number associated with your business which can come in handy for people who want the at-a-glance view of what you do.

Pro Tip: Use this written tutorial to walk you through the steps of making your custom Google Map to then embed in your website.

Strategy #3 Post Blogs Regularly

In support of Google liking new content, consider writing a blog post at least once a month that is featured on your website. You can use your blog as a space for sharing new content and announcements about your business, distributing it on your social media for further exposure and visitor interest while encouraging them to click back to your website for more content.

Pro Tip: Use an eye-catching picture when sharing your blog post on social media, including the blog link on your post so they can easily find the full content on your website and check out more that you have to offer.

Strategy #4 The Contact Page is Necessary

 Yes, I know we’ve all been spammed when listing our email or other contact info on our website. Some therapists have gone so far as to eliminate ways to contact them via their website for this reason. But to eliminate it or not feature a “contact us” page is something Google doesn’t like, meaning it could hurt your ranking as VIP when it comes to the SEO game. So consider a contact page with set form fields and a captcha if necessary, recognizing that Google is still happiest when having your business name, address, phone number, and email featured.

Pro Tip: List your address, phone and email in the footer of your website so it populates on every page a visitor views.

Strategy #5: Links to Other Websites

Google likes your connections. Consider having hyperlinks to other webpages and resources on your website, encouraging visitors to participate in further clicks and engagement on your site. The longer the visitor is on your site, the better. Which is probably why people spend so much time writing and re-writing content for their websites. 

Pro Tip: When hyperlinking outside resources and referrals, be sure to change the settings so that each link opens in a new tab or window. You want to keep visitors on your page as long as possible, so a click that takes them completely away from your site isn’t recommended.

You did it! You are one step closer to being part of Google’s exclusive guest list! We looked at five strategies to improve your website’s performance with SEO to keep you and your business on Google’s radar. Next, you may want to consider hiring a professional to work on some elements that are a little more time consuming and complex, including:

·      Attach keywords and tags to your website that fit your brand

·      Complete coding on the back end of your website when using pictures or copy so Google can read it fully while limited errors

·      List your business within other search engines to make you easier to find

SEO can be seen as ever-evolving, requiring commitment to be named a VIP on Google’s guest list. Give yourself some grace, connect with colleagues, and recognize it takes patience to tackle this learning curve! You can be successful at being seen!

*These are tips and tricks I’ve learned from various marketing and SEO professionals and are subject to change. They do not replace formal consultation with a professional and are for educational purposes only.

Self-Harm vs. Suicidal Behavior: What Clinicians Need to Know

A common question in our community is about the connection between self-harm and suicide. Self-harm, also known as Non-Suicidal Self Injury (NSSI), is defined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) as relational and coping. Self-harm as a means for suicide can be described as one of eight possible reasons for engaging in self-harming behaviors. Dr. Jack Klott discusses the eight reasons in detail in his online series, Suicide and Self-Harm: Stopping the Pain as:

1.     Emotion regulation or coping-i.e. to calm the senses  

2.     Self-punishment- i.e. “I deserve to hurt.”

3.     Psychosis-i.e. command hallucinations to harm self

4.     Response to anxiety and depression- i.e. to bring back into body, to feel something, to express internal pain

5.     Peer influence- i.e. they said it worked for them

6.     Body dysphoria- i.e. I need to alter my body to feel more like myself

7.     Isolation and abandonment- i.e. expressing pain

8.     Suicide rehearsal- i.e. intention to die

For teens today, any of these eight possibilities could apply. Although each person has their reasons for engaging in self harm, more and more teens are going to their peers and the internet for answers on how to handle the stress they face in academics, relationships, and more. 

For 12-year-old Savannah, for example, self-harm patterns in her life are the result of a friend saying it helped them cope, therefore encouraging Savannah to explore if self-harm would have the same results for her as a coping strategy. 

What and Where?

 So what does self-harm look like for today’s youth? In the clinical arena, we are tracking trends in behaviors that have been socialized and publicized to some degree, like the Tide Pod Challenge of 2018 and the Salt-Ice Challenge of 2012. According to the Mayo Clinic, self-harm can be defined as any behavior that is self-inflicted, deliberate, and results in injury. Examples could be scratching, cutting, burning, hitting, and rubbing the skin until it’s damaged, as is the result of using an eraser on the skin. As more awareness is built around self-harm, the once typical locations of arms and legs may be seen as too noticeable to the public eye by individuals who feel a sense of judgement or shame after having engaged in self-harm behaviors. Therefore the clinical community is now tracking self-harm that appears more subtle when expressed on the human body, such as locations that are easier to cover up or hide from others, including but not limited to armpits, torso, upper thighs, and between toes. 

Curiosity and Compassion

Engaging youth in exploration as to what purpose the behavior serves can bring context and understanding to their reasons for engaging in repeat self-harming behaviors. It can also help professionals, family, and friends identify appropriate responses to self-harm in order to best support of the person they are trying to help. Asking questions from a neutral, curious place can clarify a youth’s choice for self-harm as it relates to risks for suicide. 

 Examples of how to ask:

“What purpose does this serve for you?” 

“What do you get from engaging in self-harm?” 

“What was your intention when engaging in self-harm?” 

For example, after being encouraged by her peers, 12-year-old Savannah states that she scratched her arm repeatedly in trying to cope with an internal, painful experience. This disclosure may feel very different in how a professional would respond to safety needs in comparison to the experience of 22-year-old Taylor, who reports he was hoping he would get an infection as the result of self-harm and die.

Harm-Reduction Model

Self-harm can be considered a precursor and risk factor for suicide, which is why it is important to explore a person’s experience and purpose for engaging in self-harm behaviors. Best practice continues to be a Harm Reduction Model when it comes to addressing self-harm behaviors, which means working alongside the person to identify other coping skills that could be utilized prior to self-harm with the hope of the urge dissipating as time passes and other strategies are utilized. The peak of strong emotions and stress is best described as the bell curve, where once a person in distress reaches the peak and start moving back to baseline—possibly out of fatigue or exhaustion—individuals who have historically engaged in self-harm report they are less likely to engage in the behavior in feeling less of a pull to do so.

Coping skills that can reduce the intensity and frequency of self-harm should be unique and individualized to each person. Returning to 12-year-old Savannah, for example, with therapeutic support, she has identified that she is looking for external expression of internal pain. Therefore, the primary theme for Savannahs’ safety plan would be to support her in identifying other ways to express that pain. For some youth, just the sight of damaged skin or blood is sufficient to shift or alleviate their current state of pain. For these individuals, a mental health professional might work with them to try fake blood applied to their body where they feel the urge to self-harm, or other expressions such as henna tattooing or doodling. 

For individuals who report that the pain response is the key element that quiets their internal system, other means can be introduced that reduce the risk of injury or infection. For example, perhaps a mental health counselor introduces a rubber band for youth to snap their own wrist, a frozen washcloth to pull apart that results in intense cold and stinging without injury, or introduces Icy-Hot for the tingling sensation on their skin. Again, each person’s Harm Reduction Plan should be catered to their needs in support of reducing self-harm behavior by means of how often they engage in the behavior and reducing methods that increase suicide risk.

Taking on Private Insurance is Like Learning to Eat Healthy

Taking on private insurance is like learning to eat healthy.

At first you aren’t sure you want to do it. You’ve heard how hard it can be and so you’re on the fence. You enjoy your freedom and don’t want to be tied down by all the rules. It seems like so much effort. It feels too hard.

But there’s this little voice in the back of your mind saying what if? What if eating healthy could be the best thing for you in the long run? So you take the first steps in learning to eat well. You find yourself frustrated with the effort, energy, and resulting mood swings that come from being outside your comfort zone. You continue to question if it is worth all the hassle. You have a couple meltdowns.

Eventually, with persistence, you find your groove. You’re noticing it takes less effort to eat healthy. You’ve found success in having a plan in place, it feels more effortless now. 

The journey of adding insurance to your private practice is a lot like learning to eat healthy. 

The same emotional rollercoaster. The same doubts and frustration. The same growing pains. And in the end, insurance can contribute to the overall health and well-being of your business, allowing it to thrive amidst COVID-19 and beyond.

 So let’s take a look at some of the myths and practical tips to navigating insurance in private practice.

Myth #1: The Panels are Closed

It’s possible that the panels are closed, especially when we understand that insurance data on their providers isn’t very accurate or up to date. It isn’t uncommon to hear that providers listed in directories are retired, deceased, or not taking new clients. So how successful would a member (client) be in finding a qualified provider?  Encourage potential clients to reach out to their private insurance to express their concerns and difficulties. Sometimes this works to open up a panel for credentialing of additional providers in hearing that their members can’t find the services they need.

What can you do as a professional? 

·      Name your Niche: Highlight your specialties and justification for being approved as a provider. If insurance finds you are providing a service their members want, they could agree to move forward with credentialing.

·      Be Persistent: Follow up with closed panels to see if things change over time. Your persistence may pay off if you catch them in the optimal window where they are taking new providers!

Myth #2: Payment is Poor

I recommend to fellow providers that we all find a way to make peace with not being paid what we are worth. Insurance panels will report that they generate their pay structure based on comparable professionals in your area and thus, believe they are offering a competitive rate. Regardless of what they pay, is it still important to you to serve a particular population? Is it worth the effort to help people who need to use their insurance to access services? If you’ve answered yes to these questions, don’t give up on insurance just yet! Panels continue to evaluate rate of pay on an annual basis and I’ve seen the rates of reimbursement improve over time. There’s hope that they will continue to evaluate and increase rates every year.

Professional Pointers

·      Do your Research: What services does each insurance panel reimburse for and at what rate? Interview colleagues to better understand their experiences with certain panels.

·      Renegotiate as Needed: Identify the process for renegotiating your rates once you’ve been credentialed as a provider. It doesn’t mean you will automatically get what you’re asking for but it could spur insurance to take another look at rates for all their providers in hearing from you and others that a rate increase is desired.

 Myth #3: Billing is Unbearable

I agree with you that billing can be a headache. More so when we had to mail in claims or submit them by hand on CMS1500 forms. The good news is that billing has been streamlined, saving time and headaches for providers everywhere! What has streamlined billing over the past ten years? Electronic Health Records (EHR). Popular options like SimplePractice, TherapyPartner, and TherapyNotes have billing processes built in, eliminating the middleman clearing house and auto-filling some billing information based on your calendar appointments to save you both time and effort as a busy clinician.

Professional Pointers

·      Create Templates: Streamline your process even further by creating required templates in your EHR like a credit card form for collecting copays and a Mental Health Assessment to justify a clinical diagnosis required to bill each service.

·      Understand Compliance: Identify compliance requirements based on your insurance contract. Most require a diagnosis resulting from a formal intake, progress notes, and treatment plans for providers to remain compliant and pass an audit.

Myth #4: I’ll End Up Working for Free

There is understandable fear that clinicians could work for free. Insurance panels could take money back if providers make a billing error or if the member isn’t actually covered by an active insurance policy at the time of service. Combine this with confusion about what insurance plan the member/client actually has and the random names for varying plans under bigger names like Aetna and United, it’s no wonder providers feel reluctant to jump on the insurance bandwagon. It’s in your best interest to create a system and process for verifying insurance from the first contact with a client you’d like to work with. It is also in your best interest to bill regularly so you can catch any errors in a timely fashion. After all, it’s even more painful to realize you aren’t getting paid for the last three months in having waited to bill sessions at a later date. 

Professional Pointers

·      Anticipate Delays: Budget your business with anticipation of delays in payment. Most insurances take 2-3 weeks to process claims.

·      Set up EFT: Selecting Electronic File Transfer (EFT) or Direct Deposit of funds will save you some stress in seeing when funds are processed and received in your business account

Insurance doesn’t have to be so stressful. I sincerely and passionately believe that adding insurance clients to your practice will support sustainability and quality client referrals, making your business a healthy one full of growth and long-term potential in offering what you do. 

To learn more about adding insurance to your private practice, check out our webinar, Investing in Insurance: Strategies for Private Practice which features more on the 4 Myths and 20+ Tips of adding insurance to your private practice, making it work well for you!

Brand Basics: Three Foundational Elements When Branding Your Business

Let’s keep it simple. As a therapist, YOU are your brand. That’s right, people are looking at your website, social media, and any other material they can find, trying to decide if you are relatable, competent, friendly, and approachable. They are making a snap judgement not by your credentials but by what you say you work with, and how you look, dress, and sound (if you have videos). It’s important to keep this in mind when growing your business. There are several elements of brand to consider when starting or strengthening your practice so let’s take a look at them here.

1.     Select the Name of your Business

Step 1: Identify Words that Describe You and What You Do

For many of us starting out, we get stuck on the initial piece of building a business—the name! What name will capture what you do? Who you are? The people you serve? Consider asking for key words from colleagues or current clients about how they would describe working with you. Remember that you are your brand. Therefore whatever key words they share could be a starting place for finding the name of your business.

Step 2: Focus on Future Thinking 

Also consider if you would expand or add additional services in the future of your business. You might be considering online coursework, writing a book, or adding other providers to your practice. By thinking ahead, you can avoid some of the challenges that come with having a brand or name that doesn’t capture how your business has evolved. Challenges that some colleagues have shared as 1) naming their business their first and last name, but then wanting to bring on other therapists as a group practice and 2) wishing they’d kept the business name more broad to cover other services such as ABC Counseling vs. ABC Therapeutic Services to allow visitation, case management, etc. to be added as they grew.

Step 3: Recognize Identity Confusion and Trademarks

Yes, I’ve saved the scariest for last when it comes to naming your business. Not everyone is well versed in the rules of Intellectual Property and trademarks. Start with a general search of the name you are wanting to use via Google. Does it already exist as an established company similar to yours? Next, visit the trademarks database and do a search. If someone owns the name already, you can’t use it. If you do, you’re asking for legal action around trademark infringement and a possible lawsuit. Third, visit your state’s small business site to do a search of business names registered there. Are there other companies in your state with a similar name? Would you be confused with their business, making it difficult for potential clients, customers, and Google to find you? 

As you can imagine, this is an overwhelming first step in creating a business. You may want to consult an IP attorney for further in-depth research on the name you are considering. 

One last tip? Consider making up a name or word that doesn’t yet exist! Or spelling something uniquely. It simplifies concerns of trademark infringement and copyright and could make your business easier to find in being unique when put in a google search!

2.     Build Your Brand

Congrats, you’ve successfully navigated through the name selection process! Now it’s time to build your brand with a Brand Book and logo. Were you aware of Brand Books before this blog? I didn’t know what they were until marketing and graphic design experts gave me an education. A Brand Book identifies elements of your brand including:

·      Colors

·      Fonts

·      Placement of logos on materials

·      Tone of voice

·      And more!

Why is this important? Because if you expand and/or hire marketing and social media support, for example, it will be important that they stay on-brand when creating new content for you in order to embody the essence of your business. Look at this from the lens of big businesses. Let’s take Target for example. Target uses specific fonts in their marketing. They have a particular shade of red that is recognized with their bullseye logo. And every time they release an advertisement, there is placement and tone of voice to consider. They don’t deviate from these recognizable elements of their brand. 

So in exploring what your Brand Book would include, you may start with a logo. There are affordable options for unique logo creation with freelancers through Fivver and Upwork.com. You can also hire a larger company that will do research as well as create the design, ensuring your logo isn’t too similar to other entities out there to support your unique presence in the world of business.

3.     Invest in First Impressions

You’ve created your brand foundation with a recognizable name and logo. Now it’s time to make a quality first impression on potential clients! First impressions include your website and YOU. Therefore it’s suggested that you invest in professional photos that can be used throughout your marketing strategy, including your website and social media presence. Consider photos of you speaking, moving, learning, and with props. Create photos that highlight what you do and what you offer within your business. Most importantly, invest in photos that capture your essence! 

Essence can also explain why video is becoming more popular in marketing. Consider investing in a professional video of you and your business. There are some amazing companies out there that make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience, leaving you with a quality video to post on your website and social media as you see fit.

You did it! You’ve navigated the three foundational elements of creating your brand! Once you have these three items crossed off, it becomes easier to build your brand presence within your community. Knowing that there are a ton of resources out there but I’m asked frequently who I’ve used and valued, I’ll leave you with some local professionals that have been helpful to the building of my three businesses here in Denver, CO for your consideration.*

Colorado Resources*

Photos of You and Your Brand: Jessica Christie Photography, Denver, CO https://jessicanchristie.com

Printed Marketing Materials including flyers and business cards: Smudge Pot Creative, Arvada, CO http://www.smudgepotcreative.com

Website Design with SEO Elements: Liv’N Design, Boulder, CO http://www.livndesign.com

Intellectual Property Consultation: Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti Law Firm, Denver, CO https://bhgrlaw.com

*I do not receive incentives for naming these businesses and they do not represent an exhaustive list of professionals in Colorado. Please research and select your services independently and accordingly.

Supervision Starter: 13 questions to ask before taking on a new supervisee

It can be challenging to determine compatibility and good fit when exploring the supervision relationship. If you are offering supervision in private practice, it is important to remember the responsibility and liability you hold for any clinician under your care. 

What are their ethics? 

What’s their background and training? 

What contracts and agreements need to be put in place to support the professional supervision relationship?

Supervision doesn’t have to be scary. Let’s take a look at some important questions that can aid in the exploration process for best fit within the supervisory relationship!

1.  What aspect(s) brought you to contact and interview for supervision?

This question can identify the clinician’s requirements like pursuing supervision for licensure, credentialing, or internship needs.

2. What is your most recent college degree______________and major___________________ 

Does this match what you can offer as a supervisor? Does this aid in decision making in being aware of their program rigor and preparation for the field? Does this match their resume?

3. What is your experience working in the mental health field?

How is their experience compatible with their next steps in professional growth? Has this helped them identify preferred populations, desired niche, or further training goals?

4. Do you have any specific/special training/certificates in the mental health field other than your degree?

This question can identify a supervisee’s career goals and supervision needs specific to pursuing certification or additional credentials. Will they need a supervisor who is approved to sign off on a specific credential? Does the supervisor have a similar focus or field of expertise?

5.  Describe your career aspirations?  How can supervision help you attain them?

What’s the clinician’s end goal? Examples may include private practice, registered play therapist or EMDR certification.

6.  What qualifications/characteristics do you look for in a supervisor?

An important questions that can bring context to fit in the supervisory relationship! Are they self-aware of what they need in regards to support, administrative needs, and clinical case conceptualization?

7. What are your strengths and weaknesses?

This question encourages exploration into how you can support them in professional growth through the supervision relationship.

8. How do you manage self-care?

Can be helpful in gaining insight into their work-life balance and ability to remain objective under pressure with client needs and/or career demands.

9. Explain your perception of boundaries?

Has the supervisee had experience enforcing boundaries in the therapeutic relationship? How successful were they? Is this an area of strength? Growth?

10.  Are there any client populations, referral behaviors, family belief systems, etc. that you would not feel comfortable working with? Why?   

A supervisee’s response can provide clarification of fit for populations served within their work, limits when working with certain populations and/or diagnoses, and can identify growth opportunities when working with a diverse clientele.

11.  What is your favorite client population to work with? Why? 

Can support niche development and referral compatibility. 

12.  Have you ever had a complaint filed against you in the mental health field?

 Does this match records with their licensing board? Can you verify their current status and standing with licensure?

13.  Do you have malpractice insurance?

An important component that may be required by you as the supervisor in taking on the supervisee.

The questions we’ve included are a great starting point to get to know a potential supervisee’s wants, needs, and skill set. Not only can you identify their current standing, but resopnses can also streamline goal setting should the professional relationship progress! Supervision is one of the most fulfilling professional relationships a mental health clinicians can cultivate! Streamlining your start with these questions can put you on the path to compatibility and best fit.

Originally posted by Khara Croswaite Brindle, MA, LPC, ACS at www.empowermentmodelsupervision.com/empowering-blog on 3/10/2020

The Badge of Busyness and the Battle with Burnout

Burnout is being talked about a lot right now amidst COVID-19. It can feel so sneaky that you don’t even know it’s there! Known for holding us back, sitting on our chests, or making us feel low, you may think it’s just that you need a vacation. After all, you’ve been working a lot lately. But what about when a vacation doesn’t fix it? What about when you find yourself returning from a break, not feeling any better about the work that is waiting for you?

It has happened to me. I’d take a planned break or vacation and not fully decompress. I’d take work calls and emails because as a small business, we’ve been told to stay responsive. I’d answer texts from clients about their appointments, because even though I’d shared I’d be out of town, they’d forgotten and I didn’t want them to show up at the office when I wasn’t there. I’d schedule meetings for right when I returned, sometimes going straight to the office after getting off the plane. I’d skip lunch and eat dinner late. I’d shorten my time away to get back to work. Can you see all the problems? I had such poor boundaries! 

Poor boundaries because I had been taught to hustle to get results. I had been taught to be responsive, efficient, and constantly productive. I had been taught that rest was for retirement. I had been taught to wear the badge of busyness. When I found myself tired, irritable, and unhappy, I was told that my 20s were for working hard to make my dreams of work-life balance possible later. Later. How much later? I’ve known for awhile that I’m going to work for 50 years of my lifetime. I also know that I’m called to work as an ‘elder millennial’ because I’m chasing purpose and impact alongside some of my peers. I’ve tried to pep talk myself through burnout, telling myself I was kicking ass and taking names. And I was, until I realized I was driving myself into the ground.

Identify Burnout

What can burnout look like? It can be fatigue, irritability, depression, and numbness. It can be a loss of trust, working too many hours, and saying yes when we want to say no. For me it was all these things and more. My experience included avoiding the news and movies that made me think of work. It was increased criticism, controlling behaviors, and having a short fuse. It was me being unrealistic of deadlines, lost pleasantries in emails, and avoidance of socializing because it felt like too much work. Does any of this resonate with you? Perhaps you too are experiencing burnout.

Remove the Badge of Busyness

Burnout happens to all types of people and we can look at society as one piece of the bigger puzzle. As Americans, we’ve been encouraged to work full-time jobs with multiple side hustles. For some, it isn’t even a choice in needing to make ends meet. American culture has created the badge of busyness, celebrating how busy we all are as if it’s some sort of victory. Brene Brown speaks to this in one of her books on vulnerability, sharing how it doesn’t serve us to celebrate the badge of busyness and how instead, we need to revisit work-life balance as a part of our purpose. If we can slow ourselves down, perhaps we can pivot and reprioritize differently. By asking ourselves, “is this aligned with my goals or is this just busyness?” we can strategize our next move for the better. Removing the badge of busyness is just one strategy to achieving balance over burnout. 

Are you ready for more strategies to tackle burnout? Check out our Balance Over Burnout on-demand course, offering 5 strategies to address burnout for both you and your clients. 

Interested to learn if my burnout journey has a happy ending? Check out my new book Perfectioneur: From Workaholic to Well-Balanced. One Therapist’s Guide to Get You There for more on my story as well as additional tips to achieve your own work-life balance!