We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Gina Gheller. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Gina below.

Hi Gina, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about how you went about setting up your own practice and if you have any advice for professionals who might be considering starting their own?

Setting up a full time psychotherapy practice happened slowly with much persistence and dedication. After completion of the required three years of post-graduate training in a psychiatric hospital setting, I was eager to follow through on my long awaited dream of running my own practice, but I did not necessarily have the greatest marketing success. I got on several insurance panels as soon as I could and picked up various contracts for outside organizations, which definitely helped me pay the bills and gain meaningful practice experience, but did not necessarily match with my calling. For example, a contract working with children and families in the public school system and one working with elders in geriatric settings both offered insights to my therapeutic knowledge and general understanding of human dynamics. In retrospect, I can see that I did not have as much commitment and confidence in marketing my private practice. Marketing is, to me, mundane and full of rejection. I often ran into resistance from psychiatrists who said they did their own therapy or even did not believe in therapy. I spent a lot of time and money on marketing materials and web design with very little results. Word of mouth is your best marketing tool, from other clients. I strongly recommend becoming active within your professional community by attending meetings and recognizing that each of these is a marketing opportunity.

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?

I always knew I wanted to help others as a psychotherapist and published author. As the third daughter of a family of six girls, I also knew I wanted to do some sort of activism for Women’s Wellness. While completing my Masters Degree in Social Work at The University of Houston in 1997, I published my thesis but found this sort of technical research writing to be tedious. As I slowly began building my practice, I wrote a self-help column for a local Houston magazine answering reader questions. Next, I wrote for an online magazine as the Relationships Expert. Meanwhile, after going through a divorce and working with many divorce survivors, mostly women, I began specializing in Women’s Issues and spent about ten years writing my first book, “The Women’s Ultimate Divorce Survival Guide: A Therapist’s Divorce Journey & Dating Discoveries.”

Narcissist Abuse Survival is a hallmark Women’s Issue, and yet no one was talking about it. As a survivor myself of several narcissistically abusive relationships, I understand how the Narcissist manipulates, grooms, gaslights and abuses. Many of my clients had similar experiences with Narcissist Abuse and yet there was no book available to address trauma recovery for female survivors of romantic Narcissist Abuse. It is overwhelming, confusing, and isolating. My book, “25 Ways Narcissist Abuse Survivor Workbook” identifies the 25 areas of life damaged from being in love with a Narcissistic Abuser. I developed Journaling questions and affirmations for each of these areas. The guide can be used for self-help and also in conjunction with working with a psychotherapist.

I presently offer clients self-help tips and Narcissist Abuse education on my instagram: @narcissistabusesurvivalexpert and also am working on a podcast to go along with my book, “25 Ways.”

What I am most proud of is authoring my self-help books while also being an activist helping the world recognize and validate the damage done by Narcissistic Abusers. When I began specializing in this field, very little was done for survivors. In graduate school, no one was talking about survivors, only about the mentally ill Narcissist. I am proud of being a ground breaking researcher and advocate for Narcissist Abuse Survivors.

My books are a way to help women who might not be able to afford psychotherapy or coaching.

What I want potential clients to know is that I truly am an expert on Narcissist Abuse & Relationship Issues. My books explore areas which have not been addressed from the female perspective. Narcissist Abuse Survivors often feel alone and overwhelmed in their trauma and their friends and family are exhausted listening to stories of abuse. This book organizes painful memories so readers and clients can take the power and fear out of their experiences and move forward with strength, hope, and healthy boundaries.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

Putting in the practice hours is how practitioners becomes successful. It is frustrating to see people being taken advantage of by saying they are experts at something and they have very little experience, only training. In addition, success means you have to ride the highs and lows of referrals and not become stressed when weeks go by without a new client. Building a successful practice is a marathon, not a race.

Writing a book is also a marathon. Try to write a little bit every day, but also, feel free to take off a week or two and not think about it. Sometimes we write about things which are difficult to process and share with others. This is your writing journey and no one is timing your pace.

If you could go back in time, do you think you would have chosen a different profession or specialty?

I would definitely choose my same profession if I went back in time. I enjoy my job not only because it allows me to help others, but also because my path has allowed me to be a single mother who gets to set her own work hours, participate in school functions, and steer clear of office politics.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.narcisistabusesurvivor.com
• Instagram: @narcissistabusesurvivalexpert
• Youtube: @narcissitabusesurvivalexpert

Image Credits

Aydra Swan (for my personal image)