Do you have a wide and varied range of experience from your years in the helping profession? How can you bring these skills and life experiences together into a Canadian private practice that you can run as your own boss? Are you worried about walking the right path?  You can always learn how to incorporate your mental health field experience! Your years working as a student, abroad, or part-time can all lead you to the path that you want to be on. With intention and passion, you will create a life that feels right for you when you take the action to create it.  In this podcast episode, Shelly and I discuss how she came to start her own private practice after 30+ years of working in and around the helping profession. She trusted the path and followed her heart, and it brought her to a place where she enjoys doing her daily work. MEET SHELLY Shelly is the owner of Shelly Qualtieri & Associates Counselling & Coaching. Her goal is to create a safe and supportive space for teens and adults to feel a little lighter after each session, empowered and more in control of their life - with understanding the root cause of the challenges while providing practical tools and strategies to implement in their lives. Learn more about Shelly on her website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.  In this episode:  How Shelly became a social worker  Taking the leap to start a private practice  Building up the business  Julia's tips for filling up your associates' schedules  Shelly's advice to private practitioners  How Shelly became a social worker In university, Shelly started out working on a sociology degree and by her third year, she was working full-time nights and volunteering for seven years.  Shelly then worked and studied for some time in Australia before moving back to Canada, working with people that struggled with severe mental illness in relation to addiction.  After working for universities, Shelly then spent five years working with domestic violence victims and survivors. And finally, Shelly has now opened her own practice! Taking the leap to start a private practice  Shelly had struggled with a challenging manager, and she got to a point where she knew that she needed a change.  Once she decided to quit and do something different, Shelly reconnected with a friend that had been working in private practice as a side hustle for years before recently going full-time, and she felt ready to do the same.  Within 14 months, Shelly had a full-time schedule and was working out of an office.  Building up the business  Shelly has been able to learn the entrepreneurial skills that it takes to start, run, and maintain a successful Canadian private practice.  Shelly's assistant was the first person that was a part of her team, and it was a huge help for her. Additionally, this is where she also learned about the importance of having great systems.  Julia's tips for filling up your associates' schedules  If you can, avoid naming your practice after yourself.  Consider finding a name that is not identifiable completely to you.  Once you separate your name from your practice name, referrals that come through would most likely be more open to seeing your associates, since your name is not the business name.   Shelly's advice to private practitioners  Ask lots and lots and lots of questions! Especially those that you look up to and know have had experience in the field that you are entering into.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 94: Get Free Consultations for Your Private Practice! | EP 94 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free) Learn more about Shelly on her website, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.  Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn 

Ver todos los episodios