We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Cara Czarnecki. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Cara below.
Cara, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?
Born and raised in Chicago, I decided at the age of 40 to move my family to CO. I grew up in Brookfield and later moved to the south side with my husband. There, we started a family and I went into private practice. I had developed a good network system there but something told me that I couldn’t grow in the ways I really needed to. I felt stifled. Like I needed to rip my way out of a box. My brother in law got a job opportunity in CO and he and my sister planned to leave quickly. My husband and I had discussed moving out of state in the past and CO had come up. Within 48 hours we decided that we would move there too. Almost a year to date we packed up and moved our family. The transition was tough. We had 2 young girls and our beloved dog that was in her later years. We were lucky that my husband could continue to work for the same company that also had headquarters here, but I had to rebuild a private practice in a competitive city of therapists. And I knew no one. I was very sick when we arrived so it took me longer than I wanted to get started. When I did, I quickly ran out of money. I went to a non for profit to take out a small loan, found an amazing landlord with inexpensive rent, and set up shop. I joined facebook therapists groups and put my name out there every day. I networked,, I joined insurance panels, and I got back on my feet quickly. In less than 5 years, I went to full private pay with a full caseload, a beautiful office overlooking the mountains, and became a highly trained EMDR trauma therapist incorporating my love of art therapy and utilizing my skills as a Reiki master.
Cara, 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?
I began as a high school art teacher. I loved that kids loved my class. But with that came the kids that felt like they didn’t belong. The kids that struggled the most. I had kids with drug problems, panic attacks, anxiety and depression. Kids that would self harm. Kids that would isolate because they thought no one saw them. My focus became to make sure that these kids were seen. That they were heard. That they could use my class for expression. I became limited as a teacher on what I could do to help them. I wanted to dive in. To help people from the root of the problem. So I left teaching and went to graduate school for counseling and art therapy. There I learned a different way to see art. Not by rules or guidelines. Not by critique. Not by product. But by expression. By process. And in this I also started to heal myself. I became the person that I didn’t have as a teenager. I walked through my own dark side to give other people hope. As art as my foundation, I built on this. I created a technique in therapy that is unique to me and unique to my clients. One that covers mind, creativity, and spirituality. I specialize in Complex PTSD, something that I understand well. I help people see who they are without the trauma attached to every aspect of their life. And I love it.
Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?
Network. Join all the facebook groups in your area and talk to other therapists. Find out what their specialty is and share yours. Comment on posts. ALOT. Make your name known. You want people to know who you are and what you offer. Build good relationships with your clients. Client referrals are the best resources you can ask for. Join referral sources like Psychology today. Show up to networking events. Reach out to people on LinkedIn. Step way out of your comfort zone. Be persistent.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
I was put in a position several years ago that made me have to move fast. A toxic situation with a toxic employer made me have to decide very quickly that I was going to have to be strong enough to go into private practice. It was a life changing event and one that took me time to recover from. However, it was the best career decision I’ve ever made and without it I may not have ever discovered my capability and strength. I had incredible support from my existing clients that followed me into my practice. It taught me that it wasn’t the company that made me desirable to work with. It was me.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tabularasacounseling.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-czarnecki-lpc-maat-2219533a/
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/cara-czarnecki-denver-co/120681
Image Credits
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