We were lucky to catch up with Melissa Foster recently and have shared our conversation below.
Melissa, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.
The turning point came when I realized that I wanted more autonomy and creative freedom in my practice. I wanted to create an environment where I could set my own treatment philosophies, schedules, and work with clients in the way I believed was most effective. I had taken a few trainings, specifically in EMDR and trauma work, and because my role at the time was for a generalist provider implementing things wasn’t really an option. With this dream in mind, I decided to take the leap and start my own therapy practice.
There was definitively several steps to the process and some decisions that I needed to make.
My first step was to create a business plan of sorts. This involved defining my ideal client, identifying the location for my practice, estimating initial costs, deciding if I was going to take insurance or not and set some short- and long-term goals for my practice.
I knew I had all the necessary licenses and certifications to practice independently but I needed malpractice insurance, business license and other things like that.
I connected with past co-workers who had already ventured out on their own and that was super helpful.
I also established an online presence through a website and social media platforms. Networking with other professionals in the field was essential for referrals so I started to make connections.
Key challenges? Managing finances and understanding insurance billing was a significant challenge. I had to ensure I could cover my expenses while providing services to clients. Who wants to not be paid?
There’s a level of financial Insecurity to owning your own business. It took time to build a steady client base, and I had to manage my budget carefully.
As a therapist, self-promotion felt uncomfortable at first. I had to learn to market myself and my practice effectively.
Unlike when you work in a larger agency or Community Mental Health center, I had to juggle administrative tasks, client sessions, and marketing on my own. It was a steep learning curve.
Knowing what I know now, I would have established my “brand” name and logo etc. sooner. Having mentors to guide me through the early stages was immensely helpful and I probably would have leaned on them more if I could do it again.
For any young professional considering starting their own therapy practice, I would offer the following advice:
Plan thoroughly, seek mentorship, take advantage of any free networking events or meet and greets.
As a therapist, self-care is essential. Network and build strong relationships with other professionals who can refer clients to your practice. And lastly, patience. Successful practices are not grown overnight, it can take years to build.
Starting my own therapy practice was a challenging yet incredibly rewarding journey. I love being my own boss! It has all allowed me to make a positive impact on the lives of countless individuals while fulfilling my dream of providing personalized care in my unique way.
Melissa, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a passionate Certified EMDR therapist and Consultant in Training through EMDRIA, dedicated to supporting individuals in their journey toward healing and personal growth. I specialize in helping millennials, helping professionals, and front-line workers navigate life’s challenges with a focus on mental wellness and fortitude.
Services:
Traditional Therapy Model: I offer experienced care in a traditional therapy model, to processes trauma, reducing stress and burn out, manage life transitions, improve self-esteem, and enhancing emotional well-being.
Intensive Therapy Model: I offer EMDR Intensives because sometimes you need a deeper dive into your healing journey. My Intensive EMDR Therapy model offers an accelerated path to healing. This is specifically helpful to those working professionals that can’t always take weekly time off from work for sessions.
Continuing Education for Therapists and other Mental Health Providers: I offer continuing education programs and workshops (such as ‘Private Practice 101’ and ‘how to manage parental leave when in private practice’) designed to educate and facilitate learning.
Group EMDR for Ongoing Traumatic Stress and Critical Incidents: My most recent offering I launched provides group support for individuals dealing with the ongoing challenges of critical incidents and traumatic stress. Whether you’re a first responder, therapist, ER nurse, midwife, teacher, or somewhere in-between you’ve had experiences that you shouldn’t have to carry with you. It’s my hope that by offering groups with specific populations in mind that you’ll feel same to participate and open up to the process.
As a provider I strongly believe that healers and helpers need healing too. And I am committed to providing a safe and nurturing environment for individuals who dedicate their lives to caring for others. You don’t have to carry the weight of the world alone; I’m here to hold space for your healing.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
When I decided to take the leap and venture into private practice( it took months of planning and prep) as a therapy business owner, I was also going through the process of IVF. I joke about this story a lot, but I had decided that I wasn’t going to let my journey to getting pregnant stop my entrepreneurial spirit. I had put my two weeks in at work and a week later received the news of a pregnancy. No going back, only option was to embrace the challenge, recognizing that fortitude is born in adversity. I took steps to ensure my therapy practice would remain a safe haven for clients, offering quality care even as my personal life was about to undergo a significant transformation. This meant seeking support from other professionals, adjusting my schedule, and learning to balance my roles as both business owner and expectant mom.
Just when I thought the challenges were over, the COVID-19 pandemic struck. It tested all of business owners everywhere, and I was no exception. The sudden shift to remote therapy sessions, economic uncertainty, and concerns about the health and safety of clients and my growing family created an entirely new set of hurdles.
Resilience/Fortitude isn’t about avoiding challenges; it’s about how we respond to them. I left my clients going onto parental leave a little earlier than expected and came back and adapted my therapy practice. We all had to transition to online sessions to ensure continuity of care. I stayed informed about changing regulations while I was off. It was hard.
Throughout this journey, I discovered that resilience/fortitude isn’t a one-time feat but an ongoing practice. It’s about seeking support, staying adaptable, and never losing sight of your core values. I learned the importance of self-compassion, acknowledging that, as a business owner and new parent, it’s okay not to have all the answers all the time.
Today, as both a successful therapy business owner and a loving parent of two, I look back on this journey with a profound sense of gratitude and pride. The challenges I faced, from starting my practice during (a hard) pregnancy to navigating the pandemic, have only made me more resilient, compassionate, and better equipped to support my clients.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
As someone just starting out as a business owner, with little to no knowledge of business skills, I took to reading and researching as much as I could. Something I stumbled upon was Tiffany at Lean in Make Bank. I first discovered her podcast and from there followed her on social media and took her course.
It is probably the most significant resource that has impacted my thinking and philosophy in the realms of management and entrepreneurship.
Tiffany, a therapist consultant of sorts, empowers private practice clinicians to embrace the idea that charging full fees is both legitimate and essential. She helps therapists overcome marketing-related shame, money mindsets that therapists aren’t suppose to make livable wages, and works with you to find the clients you are genuinely passionate about working with.
I will link her website here: https://leaninmakebank.com/about_us/
Contact Info:
- Website: www.fosteringfortitudeohio.com
- Instagram: @fosteringfortitudeohio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissafosterllc
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-foster-msw-lisw-s-38139672/