Welcome!

Hi there, and welcome to my project, The Thriving Therapist blog!

Are you an intern or have a limited license, working toward getting all your clinical hours or studying for exams? I was there not that long ago, my friends, and I'm here for you.  You will get there too, and hopefully this can be a place you can go when you're needing some encouragement, inspiration, or just to feel better if you had a tough session.

Or are you a newly licensed MFT, MSW, or LPC? If so, a big CONGRATS! Whew, you made it!!!

.......Now what?!

As a newly licensed MFT in California, I'm excited but overwhelmed by all the possibilities ahead of me.  With freedom comes responsibility, and responsibility can be scary!

On the surface, not much has changed other than my rates-- I'm still seeing clients at the private practice where I started my internship 4 years ago, The New Beginnings Center.  I'm also employed with a non-profit, E.R.A. Ed., seeing children as a school counselor in the Moorpark school district.  

My Journey Toward Licensure

While at first glance, not much has changed for me, a lot has changed internally for me.  First off, I'm really proud of myself for getting licensed.  The whole process took me 7 years, from the day I enrolled in my grad school program to the day I passed my second exam.  I'm also relieved to no longer be an intern working under a supervisor.  I often had anxiety before supervision, worried I'd be criticized or told that I missed something that was detrimental to my client.  Don't even get me started on the nerve-wracking experience of having to show video clips of my sessions with clients! I am grateful to all of my supervisors, even the tougher ones, but there were times I felt fragile and struggled to accept their feedback without feeling like a "bad" therapist.

The Challenges of Being Newly Licensed

While I don't miss the anxiety-provoking experience of being an intern, I do find myself occasionally missing that safety net of consistent weekly supervision when I have a difficult case.  Fortunately I still have my former supervisors to consult with.  But part of me feels like I should be able to handle most clinical issues on my own at this point.  Or I worry they're going to think I don't have the chops to be on my own.  I'm aware that I'm using all kinds of cognitive distortions and placing unrealistic expectations on myself, but this awareness doesn't stop me from holding back from asking for support sometimes.

Peer Support for Psychotherapists in our Community

I've realized that there are many of us out there, probably experiencing similar feelings.  Why go through it alone? Why not support each other and share our knowledge and insight to help each other grow as therapists? 

What can I offer you? Why should you bother reading this blog? I'm hoping to create a place where therapists in the Ventura County area and beyond can find resources, support, and ideas, and even network and collaborate with one another.  We each have our own unique strengths and specialties, as well as our challenges and areas where we'd like to grow.  

After giving it some thought, I realized that some of my strengths are writing, supporting others, reflecting deeply on my experiences to learn as much as I can, and sharing what I've learned with whoever is interested and hearing their perspective.  In addition to seeing clients, these are things that give me a sense of purpose and make me feel alive and connected to others.  I also have areas I need to grow, such as developing my confidence as a therapist, trusting more in my intuition, and strengthening my boundaries.

I invite you to think about what unique strengths and areas of growth you would like to develop as a therapist.

In closing, I want to thank you for checking out The Thriving Therapist blog and would love to hear from you in the comments section or by email.  Please subscribe or check back often for new posts!

- Britt