We were lucky to catch up with Tiffany Wright recently and have shared our conversation below.
Tiffany, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. 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?
Launching my private practice began with steps taken way before the actual launching. I believe in the power of visualization and intentionality, and I often spend time connecting to the question, what type of life and emotive experiences do I want to cultivate? Visualization is just about what you see, but it’s a somatic and emotional experience; how your body feels the emotions you experience, when you envision anything tell a story. Time freedom is one of the most important experiences to me. Having the agency to use my time for purpose, passion, play, rest, reflection, mindfulness, exploration, connection, nothingness, or any way I please is crucial to me, so I knew the surest way for that desire to get met was to be a business owner. That is my why, which is especially necessary to connect to when income drops, opportunities are sparse, and I’m feeling frustrated. After visualization comes training. As a registered and unlicensed Social Worker, I was intentional about getting training and being supervised by someone who wasn’t on an ego trip and was committed to supporting me as a new clinician, as well as a future private practice owner. The reality is, most of the time when you’re looking for somewhere to complete your hours, especially if it’s a group practice, many practices will have you sign an agreement to not take your clients with you should you leave. Thankfully, my supervisor was and is in the business of creating private practice owners, and she showed me everything in and out about the business I needed to know. Also important in my training was finding someone with similar values or adjacent practice techniques. I knew even before beginning my clinical journey, that when I learned about telehealth back in 2015, I knew Id want a remote practice so I could live, work, and play anywhere in the world.
While gathering my hours, I joined tons of clinician Facebook groups, to learn from other people’s challenges, in addition to check lists around “what you need to start your practice.”. Long ago, I remember watching a Jim Rohn video where he says, success leaves clues. And that is how I approach everything, no matter how big or small. How amazing or imperfect. Just do it. So I took all types of steps to begin shaping my brand, my work, my expertise, and my impact. I started with creating my own website, aside from the website my supervisor had. I established a newsletter to connect with folks around mental health topics. I focused a lot on client care and building rapport. I zoned in on interventions and tools that really shaped my client outcomes.
I began research various therapeutic frameworks and interventions that I wanted to be develop mastery in. I attended training, read books, listened to podcasts, and really zoned in on my niche and areas of focus. I also began to make myself marketable. I self-published therapeutic tools like workbooks, self help books, and journals. I created mental health centered content for social media.
In preparing for licensure, I spoke to other peers about their experiences, used their study resources, and also purchased my own. I passed my exam at the first attempt and launched my practice withing a couple of weeks. Thanks to my gracious supervisor, I began my practice with 20 clients. I launched my practice July 2021, and since then, I’ve been in a constant state of growth. I added a Brainspotting certification. I’m completing an Ecotherapy certification. I’ve added an additional state licensure. I am currently in a Doctorate of Social Work program at Morgan State University. I hope to supervise other aspiring clinicians one day, and possibly hire some as well.
I am passionate about mentoring and sharing my experience. Aside from all I shared, I’d say share the following
-mentorship or peer support is essential in professional development.
– its ok to be afraid
– the sooner you can get help in bookkeeping/accounting and billing, the better.
– create multiple streams of income
– be great to your clients
– schedule in vacation
– become a master of self-care
– investing in marketing is important to keep your business exposed
– connect with other clinicians
– practice what you teach
– get your own therapist
Lastly, if you’re looking to be a clinician, you can do it! There’s tons of resources out there, and people willing to lift you up.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Long ago, my spirit revealed that my primary mission is to break cycles of dis-ease, dysfunction and distress. Secondary, is to help folks in Black bodies to repair, restore and reclaim their connection with the land, themselves, and each other, in this country. So, so much of my work as a therapist and co-founder of Coco Coalition, is about creating holistic and liberating spaces and opportunities for healing, community, and enlightenment.
Professionally, I’ve been in the mental health field for 15 years. However, Ive been connected to healing and advocacy work since I was a child. I struggled with my mental health growing up, so I had my first therapist at 8, and decided I wanted to be a therapist. At 14, I decided I wanted to go in to Social Work. Everything from there, just fell into place. I attended UC Davis, double majored in Sociology and Psychology, minored in African and African American Studies. I went on to get my Master of Social Work Columbia University in New York City. Currently I’m in a Doctorate of Social Work program at Morgan State University.
I’m still in the beginning stages of my career as a clinician, however, I’m comfortable in the direction I am going. I focus on addressing 3 conditions that disconnect people from themselves: childhood trauma, grief, and eating disorders. Everything I do, goes back to my identity. I am rooted in an Afrocentric framework, and I incorporate existential, transpersonal, eco therapies, along with Brainspotting. I focus on uplifting the mind-body-spirit connection and lead with many mindfulness and arts-based interventions. I am deeply passionate about creating empowering, liberating, and holistic healing experiences for my clients. I love what I do, and I am grateful to serve the purpose that I do.
Outside of my clinical work, I love creating tools that make healing available for all, I have published nearly 10 books, workbooks, and journals focused on mindfulness, self-love, and identity exploration through my media brand, The BE Life. I have a podcast, The Shift is Real. I offer speaking and training services to organizations and corporations. I am the co-founder and Executive Director of a mental health-focused non-profit, Coco Coalition with one of my best friends.
Outside of purpose-driven work, I am an outdoor enthusiast who has a love for visiting National Parks, hiking, and being outside. She’s an avid traveler who loves journaling, painting, food with the community, and doing any intentional joy cultivating or spirit restoring activities.
Putting training and knowledge aside, what else do you think really matters in terms of succeeding in your field?
Empathy, self-care, and a commitment to intrapersonal work are essential to my work. How I show up in life impacts how I show up in my career. What I’m dealing with in life affects my capacity to be present for my clients. There are no coping strategies I go over with clients that I’ve never employed for myself. My areas of focus, grief, childhood trauma, esteem, and eating disorders, have all impacted my mental health and lived experience.
Because of my work, secondhand (vicarious) trauma, compassion fatigue, and mental burnout are everyday experiences for practitioners. Thankfully, my dedication to taking care of myself precedes being a clinician. Its necessary for me to have my own therapist, create opportunities for rest, play and restoration. Its important for me to have my own practices that allow for wholeness in my mind, body and spirit. Its important for me to work though and release my own emotional challenges, work on my communication skills, and constantly deepen my self-awareness. All personal practices and strengths allow me to be the best clinician I can for my clients.
Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?
I would say 3 books that have shaped my entrepreneurial philosophy: Think and Grow Rich and Outwitting the Devil by Napolean Hill, Mastery by Robert Greene, and Start with Why by Simon Sinek.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.tiffanywrightmsw.com
- Instagram: tiffinspires
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tiffwright/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@themindfulcorner
- Other: Podcast: The Shift is Real , available wherever you listen to podcasts My Amazon Author Bookshelf: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Tiffany%20A.%20Wright%20MSW/author/B0BL9CWRJN
Image Credits
ThirtyThreeFifteen Photography