We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Katy Caslav. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Katy below.
Hi Katy, thanks for joining us today. Setting up an independent practice is a daunting endeavor. Can you talk to us about what it was like for you – what were some of the main steps, challenges, etc.
After 2 years of being independently licensed and working for a couple of virtual group practices, I felt like I was finally ready to branch out on my own and form my own business with private practice. I basically knew nothing about business or being a entrepreneur in this field (none of this was ever talked about in grad school) I did a lot of research and talked to a lot of other therapist about their process. Figuring out payroll, taxes, marketing, advertising, social media, forming a corporation, business licenses, write offs, creating my own consent forms, etc and so much more that comes with being a business owner that I had no idea about was such a challenge! I I think the biggest challenge for me was realizing that I really had to figure all this out pretty much by myself. There is really no rulebook or checklist to setting up your own business as a therapist. I relied heavily on my CPA and tax person and other therapists to figure out this process. I definitely questioned myself if I had the caliber to be able to run my own business as so much more comes with it. My latest expansion is that I now have an office space 1 day a week. It felt like the right time for me add that service and start seeing clients in person again. I do feel a lot more confident in this practice, but I am still learning things daily. I would say my advice to therapists thinking of opening their own practice is to work with a company/group practice for at least a year to get handle on how not only therapy practices looks like independently, but also to get an idea of what it takes to run a business. This has probably been the biggest challenge and learning curve in my life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way, and I am enjoying coming into my own as a business owner!
Katy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Hi! I’m Katy and I am a licensed clinical social worker and I have been a therapist for about 8 years now. Ive been independently licensed for 3 years and I started my private practice business about a year ago. I am focusing on working with Gen Z and Millennial women struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, college student challenges, life transitions. I really enjoy this population as I am millennial myself and can relate with my own mental health struggles. I am working on branding myself as a down-to-earth, empathetic, strength based therapist. I believe everyone has the strength within themselves to heal and confront things you might not want to, it’s just about finding that within yourself. The most significant indicator for success in therapy is the relationship between the therapist and the client. I pride myself on really taking the time to build trust and rapport. The therapeutic relationship is a special type of relationship, and I value creating a safe space for my clients to feel safe and comfortable to talk about difficult things. I don’t take that role lightly :)
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
I am still trying to figure that out! It really does take a lot of time and effort to learn marketing and advertising. I recently got into social media, so I am trying to not only show who I am as a therapist, but also a relatable person, and my value in my work to potential clients. I’ve gotten a few so far hopefully that continues! I also just made business cards so I’m planning on going to some doctors offices or wellness places to introduce myself and form partnerships. I’ve heard that the best and most authentic way to market yourself is through word-of-mouth within your local communities.
We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.
I struggle with my own mental health issues starting when I was a young child. I have been in and out of therapy and on off medication throughout my life. It is an ongoing struggle that I am working through daily. Through my process, I really developed a love and passion for mental health and wanting to give back to others struggling. I sometimes question myself, and think that I shouldn’t feel this way since I am a therapist. but reminding myself that I am human as well helps to ground me and that we all struggle in someway. I think through my own journey it really helps me to relate to clients and build an understanding and rapport a little easier. I do think that is part of my strengths that I bring to my therapy practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://insightfullivingtherapy.com
- Instagram: @insightfullivingtherapy