Opening my Practice for In-Person Therapy 

I miss having in person groups. I tried it for a few months virtually. So much of the magic was lost. When people are in the same room you see their body language with each other and just how they treated one another. On the computer they just don't bond the same way. You lose all the informal parts, too. I used to have women who would still be talking in the parking lot when I left the building an hour after group was over. I miss the way community was created. I may just sublet a space for groups a couple times a week.

I will never see another client in person again for as long as I live lmao. Virtual therapy forever!😂

I think that that there is an upside to virtual therapy, for a clinician like myself, who is near the end of his career. I am full retirement age and it is very convenient. I can move and take my job with me. The bulk of my career was face to face therapy. I have been a teletherapist for about two years now and it works great for this stage of life. In person therapy definitely has more of a spiritual dimension to it than virtual therapy. The client gives off an energy that can give a clinician direction. I have had hundreds of in-person sessions, maybe a thousand, during my career. As I phase out of full-time work, teletherapy will work for me until I take down my "shingle".

Great video! I feel many of the same pros and cons for each modality. One that I feel which is the opposite of what you shared relates to more of the sixth sense information we get from clients in person. As a therapist who identifies as a Highly Sensitive Person I have found that I get more drained from in person sessions because of the amount of details I’m picking up when sitting with a client physically, which has led me to limit in person work to two days a week. It feels like my depth of processing skills are a bit more contained when I’m virtual which actually is a good boundary for me. I don’t know if tamping down the sixth sense impacts my intuition about a case or the ‘art’ of the process too much but I’ll definitely reflect on that more now that you shared your experience!

I like offering both! I started my MFT and PCC associate work in December 2020, so I've barely known another way. I especially notice the benefits in my couples work. In some cases joining on screen-and even from separate screens-can create a safer environment for a couple to engage. In other cases, the couple is looking for a second space away from home so the energy of the work stays in the office instead of on their couch. I feel grateful to be in a position to offer in person and telehealth services right now.

I do 2 days in person and 2 days virtual virtual is def better when there are cancellations I do prefer in person with new clients and maybe switching to virtual later on

Another positive to teletherapy is the fact that about half of my current clients are folks who aren't local to my area or who have other reasons that they can't come to my physical office. The fact that I currently offer both in-person and teletherapy services has effectively doubled my caseload, which has also filled my practice a lot sooner than I expected!

I’m doing mostly in-person with some virtual now. I do find it much more natural in-person. The time seems to go more slowly virtually or I am not 100% immersed in the moment and slightly more in my head, but this never happens in person. Also, as an Art Therapist I can use hands on Art Therapy, play therapy, sandplay.. and more somatic experiencing approaches, where with virtual I feel limited to stick more with cognitive behavioral talk therapy.

I do a mix of both but I do prefer in-person. I'm finding, too, that in-person therapy is a niche in and of itself. As convenient as virtual therapy is, there seem to be plenty of clients who want to carve out that time for in-person.

Agree with all these pros/cons. An added pro for me for in person is that interacting with people in person doesn't carry the same fatigue that comes with being in front of a screen all the time.

Marie! Congratulations on your office! I am an SLP and have found your videos and spirit so encouraging and helpful. Lots of warm wishes!

Yes! I agree with losing that 'art' piece of therapy via virtual therapy. I am currently doing virtual therapy and I can't wait to go back into an office and maybe do hybrid instead!

I prefer in-person sessions because of the energy in the room vs. virtual. However, I offer both which has been helpful in so many ways! Not only can clients choose what is best for them, but my clients who typically prefer to meet in-person have the option to meet virtually as needed if situation arises where they can’t come into the office (i.e. car is in the shop). Having both options has allowed me to have far fewer cancellations for that reason.

I’m totally “in-person” sider. Flipping to virtual during pandemia was awful for me. I used to get tired much more than working in-person. But I do know a few colleges who loved working virtually and are still doing it.

I didn't mean to start my practice virtually, but the pandemic made that a thing, and as you pointed out, it was a great way to start up my practice with low overhead. Ultimately, for me, nothing replaces the in-person connection, so someday I am going to sign up for the overhead of an office. But I do like the flexibility currently for starting-up and location mobility to maybe move states and find a new location I love - like you did with Santa Barbara.

I have provided therapy from being in person to walking around a lake to being online and many things in between. Currently, online is my main go to as I travel (currently in Japan:) My partner is a leader in the military so when they received orders abroad I would have had to stop working and leave my clients to go with. Being able to have the option of online also freed me from the traditional brick and mortar practice and has allowed me to live optimally on the go while also continuing to provide therapy to my awesome clients :) Will I ever go back to face to face, maybe…but for now…I am loving online and the balanced life it provides. Hey, we each need to choose what what best for our clients and us :)

Personally, I like both in-person and virtual. I've done both and transitioned myself to fully virtual over the summer because it made more sense for me at the time. However, I would love to eventually get an office space so that I can provide both virtual and in-person. I'm an LPC Associate in Texas, so that's another factor for me that complicates things.

I returned to hybrid in May. I sublet an office and love it. I do insist that in-person therapy clients are vaccinated and boosted. Having both options is so nice.

I would love to do both in person and virtual. Totally agree with the sixth sense and the art of therapy. I have been a clinician for 23 years My dilemma in recent years I have experienced both visual and hearing impairments. Virtual therapy meets my needs and sometimes I feel guilty for liking it so much yet feeling a sense of loss for not providing in person. It had always been my dream to have my own office

wish i had money for an office lol

I would like to start off by saying that I've watched several of your videos as it pertains to private practice and starting a successful counseling business. There were alot of helpful tools and resources provided. But as I looked deeper into your methodology and belief system I was truly alarmed. How can someone call themselves a Christian and deny God's very word related to gender identity, confusion and homosexuality. True, everyone deserves to be loved and treated with respect but as Born Again believers we are not to condone or accept sin which is direct disobedience to God. Your platform has brought you notoriety, financial gain, and a voice... why would you use that to lead people in error. There is no such thing as a Progressive or Affirming Christian. God said be in the world and not of the world. Be **transformed** by the renewing of our mines not Conform to societal norms. Understand there will come a day you will have to answer to every idle word and false message that is spread. I share this in love and respect so that you will repent and come back to the truth. God Bless.... 1 Timothy 4:1‭-‬2 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron. 2 Timothy 4:1‭-‬4 KJV I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables