We were lucky to catch up with Terri Bacow recently and have shared our conversation below.

Terri, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

I actually started my private practice twice! First in 2012, and then again right after the pandemic, around 2021. The first practice really was a “starter” practice that I had part time while also working at a hospital and an outpatient clinic. In 2021, I decided to devote all my attention to being a solo private practitioner and to work for myself full time.

There were several steps I took – finding an office to rent, purchasing professional liability insurance, identifying a billing platform to use, identifying methods of marketing/advertising for my practice, getting office furniture and building a website. I also decided to reach out to my accountant and become a PLLC.

The greatest challenge has been figuring out how to achieve a consistent flow of referrals (patients). Most of my clients are referred to me by colleagues, so networking has been essential. I have tried different things along the way – I enlisted an executive coach, started an Instagram account and worked with a SEO expert.

Managing one’s own business is challenging, but invigorating! I love the independence and flexibility. I am a working mother and have two kids. It has been amazing and beneficial to be able to make my own hours and my own schedule.

The advice I would give to others is to chat with colleagues who have formed their own practices and let them be your guide! These colleagues can advise you and also inspire you as you can try to mimic what has worked for them. Most of all, you have to figure out what works for YOU which takes time…. Be patient with yourself. I have learned not to panic if my caseload is a little lighter at certain points as there is often a seasonal flow each year. I also only engage in networking if I find it to be socially rewarding (having lunch with other psychologists is always a delight!)

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 interest in Psychology all started in childhood when I would follow the family dog around in the back yard and take notes on his behavior, referring to him as “the subject.” As a shy child, I loved the idea of helping others with social anxiety.

This interest blossomed in high school when I found myself absolutely loving my Intro to Psychology class. My affinity for this subject matter solidified in college during my first semester at Brown University when it became clear that I liked my Psychology class the best out of all the classes I was taking my first year. One thing that I have discovered is that Psychology involves several subjects in one! For example, Psychology includes history – learning about all the famous therapists and researchers that came before and how they developed the theories we use today. Further, Psychology is based on science – determining through trial and error what works for clients. There is also math… (statistics). Psychology is truly an interdisciplinary subject!

After college, I enrolled in a rigorous clinical psychology graduate program at Boston University where I joined an Anxiety disorders lab that focused on providing evidence-based therapies including CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy). The CBT approach is ideal for treating anxiety and mood disorders. Specifically, it involves teaching clients concrete tools and strategies for managing anxiety, worry and depressed mood. I continued to learn and practice CBT in my postdoctoral training, where I developed an interest in practicing other effective therapy approaches such as DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). In my opinion, the best therapy is based on acronyms! I joke that it is all “alphabet soup.”

In my early career, I worked at a hospital (Mount Sinai Medical Center) and an outpatient clinic (The Hallowell Center) in NYC. I made wonderful connections with the colleagues I worked with and learned a great deal, also developing an expertise in treating eating disorders and ADHD, as well as anxiety and depression.

Currently, I run my own independent private practice. I work with adults and young adult clients (including college students) specializing in treating anxiety, depression, life transitions, and ADHD using evidence-based treatments. In my therapy sessions, I provide clients with a mix of coping strategies derived from CBT (cognitive-behavioral therapy), ACT (acceptance and commitment therapy), and DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy). These strategies are supported by research as being effective in managing symptoms by reducing distress and providing a sense of calm and empowerment.

I also wrote a book! In 2020, I was connected with a publisher and am now the proud author of Goodbye, Anxiety: A Guided Journal for Overcoming Worry. This book is ideal for teenagers and young adults who are feeling anxious or insecure, as many of us do. Adults of course might also find it helpful!

I have had the pleasure of sharing my thoughts about anxiety, parenting, coping skills and other topics in Psychology in a variety of publications, including the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, Vogue, Shape, Oprah Daily and Women’s Health. I frequently give talks to schools and organizations and also guest on many different podcasts. You can find these materials featured on my Instagram @drterribacow

Most of all, my passion is through developing relationships with my clients and helping others navigate life’s challenges while “keeping it real.” I never take myself too seriously and hope that my clients find me transparent, relatable and easy to talk to. I especially like working with stressed out moms and clients who are going through changes and life transitions. As a therapist who is hard of hearing, another thing that sets me apart is my accessibility and empathy. I can relate to my clients who are going through a hard time, and I always share that “I absolutely get it.”

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

One thing that was super helpful was attending a reputable graduate program in Clinical Psychology. The program I attended at Boston University is well known for cutting edge research on treatments for anxiety and mood disorders and enabled me to go further in my career. I found it helpful to make personal connections with new colleagues in graduate school and at every job that I worked at. It is also very beneficial if your name can appear in different industry or trade publications. I was so fortunate to be connected to a journalist at Women’s Health magazine early in my career who asked me for a quote for an article she was writing about anxiety. She then went on to ask me for other comments on different topics and gradually I have been contacted by journalists and freelance writers at different outlets for a remark or soundbite. Additionally, some of these requests have come from colleagues. Further, in the present day, one can’t avoid social media. I started a professional Instagram in 2020 and this has been a wonderful outlet for providing education about mental health and promoting my book. The Instagram was a factor in getting my book published. Further, it helped me connect to others in the field who are podcast hosts and that is how I became a guest on several podcasts. In short, try to do good work and get your name out there!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

By far, the most effective strategy for me has been networking – establishing relationships with other professionals in my field. I have made trusted friends at every step of my career – from graduate school, to my predoctoral internship, postdoctoral fellowship and beyond. I consider these people to be colleagues and friends. They have gotten to know me, and those that have worked with me at jobs are familiar with the work that I do. They also understand my personality and the areas I specialize in and contact me when they have a client that they think would be a good fit for me. Networking is absolutely essential. I have gotten referrals from physicians, psychiatrists and other clinicians that I have established relationships with over the years. It also helps to be talented in your profession; occasionally a former client will refer someone they know to me as they enjoyed working with me and found therapy with me beneficial. Networking need not be a chore – I find it to be enjoyable to connect with other psychology professionals, whether seeing them at a conference or for lunch or coffee, or via Instagram!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drterribacow.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drterribacow/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drterribacow
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/terri-bacow-35a68913/
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/voW0cyUdmSA?si=ooLCfJN3x4Pe3r18

Image Credits

Zencare – but I have permission to use the images.