How to Overcome Impostor Syndrome to Leave Your Agency Job
An interview with Patrick Casale, LCMHC, LCAS, about how impostor syndrome and other barriers can get in the way of therapists moving forward into private practice. Curt and Katie talk with Patrick about what it takes to make the leap from negative work situations and become a “therapist wizard.” We also look at lots of creative ideas on how to step into fear to confront impostor syndrome as well as how to build a private practice that’s right for you.
It’s time to reimagine therapy and what it means to be a therapist. To support you as a whole person and a therapist, your hosts, Curt Widhalm and Katie Vernoy talk about how to approach the role of therapist in the modern age.
Interview with Patrick Casale, MA, LCMHC, LCAS
Patrick currently works as a private practice coach and strategist and private practice owner. He lives in Asheville NC with his wife Ariel and two dogs, Hudson and Hazel. He’s worked in the helping profession since 2008. In the last 12 years, he’s worked in several different arenas in community mental health. From a qualified professional to the program director, he found himself constantly being promoted to middle management roles where he was able to see both sides of the coin. It was hard watching his staff work so hard for so little while trying to appease the powers that be who typically were out of touch with day-to-day operations. He has worked full time as a private practice therapist for the last three years. In those three years, he’s traveled to 8 different countries, taken lots of vacations, grown his business to a point where it feels easy and routine, and has helped other therapists in the area do the same.
In this episode we talk about:
The ideas around impostor syndrome and how it impacts therapists
Common mistakes therapists make when moving from community mental health to private practice
How therapists can consistently negatively evaluate their own competence
Entrepreneurial anxiety and missteps based on lack of confidence
The early messages and attachment issues that impact self-esteem, perception of competence
Embracing fear to move forward, accepting that mistakes are inevitable
Vulnerability and authenticity, perfectionism
Taking power back through making impostor syndrome playful
Looking at how different identities are impacted by “impostor syndrome”
Conflicting and negative messages that therapists get
Entitlement and pessimism from more seasoned clinicians
Abundance versus scarcity mindset
How to become a therapist wizard
Moving from an agency to private practice
The danger of staying in an agency when you’re at the point of no return
The lack of specific numbers or exact instructions on when you should make the leap
The importance of networking when building a private practice
Ideas for overcoming anxiety and still move forward on starting your private practice
The importance of having an exit plan and steps in place
Making decisions on what is needed versus what is desired, what values can be considered
The goals that are possible once you move into your own private practice
Creativity in how you set up your practice
Understanding what you need to set yourself up for success
Resources mentioned:
We’ve pulled together resources mentioned in this episode and put together some handy-dandy links. Please note that some of the links below may be affiliate links, so if you purchase after clicking below, we may get a little bit of cash in our pockets. We thank you in advance!
https://casalecoaching.com/
Patrick’s All Things Private Practice Facebook group
