We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jordan Madison a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Jordan, appreciate you 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.
I had been working at a group practice for a little over two years when the idea to begin my own practice first came to me. At first the idea was a small one. I was turning 26 soon, knew I would be kicked off of my mom’s health insurance, and would need to make some more money. At first I tried to ask for a raise and figured since I had recently become fully licensed that wouldn’t be an issue. But after a few months of not seeing a difference, I thought maybe I needed to take a bigger step. So I figured I would start my own practice on the side, seeing 5-6 clients on the weekends, nothing too fancy. By January of 2021 I learned that wouldn’t be possible, and that’s when I knew I would have to take the leap and leave my job and bet on myself. The first step I took was giving myself a date of when I wanted to leave. I knew if I had an end goal, I could work backwards from that and do what needed to be done. The second step, and probably the hardest for a people pleaser like me, was to tell my boss that I had gained so much from working for her and was ready to step out on my own. After I decided when my last day would be, I spoke with my financial planner about how much I would need to save up in order to make this a reality and be able to support myself for a few months in case my practice didn’t take off the way I expected. Those were probably the hardest parts. It was COVID still, so everything was still virtual. I didn’t need to find an office space to rent, or worry about seeing clients in person. I had already built my own following on social media prior to and knew I would have some clients that wanted to follow me. So it was honestly a pretty smooth transition. My biggest challenge was getting credentialed with an insurance panel, which took a little longer than expected. So I had to be flexible my first month in business, and offer clients a deal so that they could still be seen at a reasonable rate and I could make a living. Knowing what I know now, the only thing I think I could have done differently is maybe starting my practice as private pay, and not taking insurance at all. Because I think the main reason I did it was out of fear and a scarcity mindset that I wouldn’t get clients if I didn’t take insurance. But I also am a firm believer that therapy should be accessible, so accepting one insurance plan was my way of doing so. My biggest advice would be to go for it. Make a plan, have a solid foundation, but remember it doesn’t have to be perfect for you to take the leap. You can and will learn along the way.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My name is Jordan A. Madison, and I am the owner of Therapy is my J.A.M., LLC. I am a licensed clinical marriage and family therapist in Maryland and D.C. The majority of my clients are individuals and couples, experiencing relationship distress, infidelity, stress with managing multiple roles, trauma, depression, and anxiety. My goal is to provide clients with techniques that help them understand their past, how it’s influencing their present, and create a future they desire. Therapy is my JAM began as my instagram page, dedicated to created content around self care, healthy relationships and normalizing therapy. But it has now grown to become a registered trademark, as well as a private practice which I am extremely proud of. When I am not seeing clients or creating content, I also am a blog writer for Therapy for Black Girls. In an effort to reduce the mental health stigma in the Black community, I have also created t-shirts that say my brand name, “Therapy is my JAM ®” that are available on my website for purchase. I also authored The CBT Journal for Mental Health, which was released in March of 2022. I know there’s only so many clients I can take, so being able to create something that will help hundreds of others was really important to me. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a common and science backed therapy practice that focuses on how our cognitions (thoughts) influence our behaviors and emotions, and vice versa. The journal consists of affirmations, check-ins, journal prompts, and exercises to help you address your thoughts and feelings. What I’m most proud of right now is being consistent with my Monthly J.A.M. newsletter that I’ve been sending out for the past year, and that I recently had my first virtual event. Hoping to use my creativity more in 2023, and create more safe spaces and self care practices for others through events.
Other than training/knowledge, what do you think is most helpful for succeeding in your field?
As a therapist, one of my biggest tools is myself. I am not a surgeon who has to use a scalpel to heal, or a lawyer who uses the legal rules and evidence to help their clients. My tool, is my personality. Me and another therapist can have the same exact training, and know the same techniques. However, it’s how I communicate these techniques and connect with the client that makes the difference. You also need to really have an ability to practice empathy and compassion. Even if you don’t agree with someone’s views, creating a space where they feel heard and safe is important and fosters a better therapeutic relationship.
To succeed in this field, it is also really important to do the work to heal yourself and practice self care. That way you’re able to stay objective in sessions and not find yourself triggered by a client’s pain or experience. Having boundaries and sticking to them is helpful. For instance, I don’t see clients Friday-Sunday, and I limit myself to a cap of seeing 6 clients a day so that I am not overwhelmed or overworked. Setting boundaries can seem selfish or hurtful to others, but in reality you’re setting an example for your clients to be able to do the same.
If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?
I always say that if I wasn’t a therapist, I have no idea what I would do. So yes, I would choose the same profession a million and one times over again. Creating a safe space for the Black community to heal and process their emotions is so important to me. And it is so needed. Specifically my specialty working with couples and families. It is my belief that family is the foundation, so in my mind if I can help to create healthier couples, that will lead to healthier families, it will create healthier individuals. However, there are some other career paths that I could see myself doing later on in life, such as becoming a doula. The Black maternal mortality rate is something that is a huge concern to me, so if there’s any way I could provide Black mothers with support, and get to hold babies, that would be a win win for me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.therapyismyjam.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/therapyismyjam
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/therapyismyjam
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-madison/
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/therapyismyjam
- Other: https://amzn.to/3LAW9Wl
Image Credits
D’Anthony Photography