Dear Living off Loans,
I graduated in 2010 and I am in my residency and working in a small private practice under clinical and administrative supervision - two different supervisors. I am not eligible to take insurance (except medicaid - and ONLY when my supervisor is in the building - which doesn't work for us so I only take private pay.)
I am not getting wealthy by any means, nor am I living off loans
This isn't a first, second, or third career for me, so I do have financial resources. I am doing what I love every day and every ounce of passion I put into this goes towards my professional development and future practice.
When I am licensed - I will already have a thriving and full practice. It took several months to fill up my case load, but I am now full, and referring out - I have a 100% retention rate so far - with one planned termination. When some of my current clients terminate - I will once again accept new clients - probably after the holidays.
This works for me and I have been successful because I am established in my community, have years of experience with local agencies, have volunteered and created connections and I am very good at providing effective therapy with *just* a Masters level degree.
My program required a 100 hour practicum - I did two. I also commuted for an entire year to an unpaid internship in an agency in another city to work with the best, seasoned therapists, with a terrific model of group supervision. My individual supervision was with a LCSW for internship. I also did a second internship at another setting to receive supervision from a licensed clinical psychologist.
In other words, I was willing to work in a very intentional and focused way to create my current setting. And... yes... I have to PAY for my LPC supervision - out of pocket. But this allowed me to choose a gifted supervisor who herself has a thriving private practice.
In my practicum, I worked with a MSW/LCSW who had worked in that setting for about 6 years. She is a young woman - early 30s or so - and she left that position and within 6 months her private practice was full.
Until I am licensed and independent, I am charging less than licensed clinicians and having to pay out a lot in expenses - but it has definitely worked for me - and it definitely is a few sigmas out from the norm! But so am I
YMMV,
Vasa Lisa
