We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Nathan Peterson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Nathan, appreciate you joining us today. We’d love to hear about the best advice you’ve ever given to a client? (Please note this response is for education/entertainment purposes only and shouldn’t be construed as advice for the reader)
The best advice I give to ANYONE that comes through my office is to live in uncertainty. Don’t figure everything out. Choose to focus only on what you have control over. When we are anxious or stressed, we are trying to figure out the future or the past. Teach the brain to be okay in the middle. We do this by continuing to give our brain answers like, “maybe, maybe not.” or “Okay, that’s a thought”.
Ultimately, it keeps you in the present moment and enjoying what’s around you.
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 am a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice. I focus my efforts on serving the OCD and anxiety community. There are only a handful of clinicians in each area that have a strong background when working with OCD. I focus on bringing the correct information about what OCD actually is. Hint….it’s not what you see on TV and NO, not everyone has a little OCD.
I am most proud of the online resources I can provide. This includes my YouTube channel with over 3 million views. My self-directed online course for OCD is one of a kind, and my social media accounts spread hope to those all over the world.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I was always taught in school that when you become a therapist you go and work for an agency. They keep your career safe with good insurance and stability. The trade-off is of course freedom. I broke off from an agency, moved to a new state, and started a private practice. When I moved I had 0 clients and hardly any knowledge of how to run a business. Within 4 months, my practice was full. I took a risk and it paid off.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
I built my reputation by being real. I started a YouTube channel where individuals could see who I was and how I practiced. They also got to see my mistakes and mess-ups on video. I wanted people to know that I am human, just like them. They gathered a good idea of what they would get by seeing me as a patient. Being honest and genuine helps too.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.OCDandAnxietyCounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ocdandanxietyonline/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ocdandanxietyonline
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/natelcsw/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ocdandanxiety1
- Youtube: www.YouTube.com/OCDandAnxiety