The Practice of Therapy

Gordon Brewer:
Well. Hello everyone and welcome again to the practice of therapy podcast. And you just don't know how thrilled I am to have this person with me today. Latanya Shelton. LaTonya was in one of my focus groups mastermind groups and as she's just one person that's near and dear to my heart. Welcome, Latanya. Yes. I'm so happy to have this conversation and for you all to kind of get to know LaTonya a little bit as I have and just sharing her, her practice journeys. So LaTonya, as I start with everyone, um, tell folks a little bit about your private practice journey and how you've landed, where you've landed and some more about you.

LaTonya Shelton:
I am, owner of Red Jasper Counseling and I'm a licensed clinical social worker as well as a registered yoga teacher and meditation instructor. And so my focus is to blend that into private practice. And boy, that's a big topic. How, how my journey began. I guess the short and quick of it is, um, after being in the field and working in group private practice and community mental health addiction centers, um, I just knew that it was time for me to, to really take control of my level of experience and the creativity that I wanted to, uh, use with, um, the clinical work that I do. And I knew that it was Ty. This was, this was a natural progression for me to go into private practice. And so it's been a little over a year and I am excited about that.

Gordon Brewer:
Yes. Yes. And as I mentioned, I got to a little, little bit at an event. Well, I would say I've gotten a little bit of a leg up on this because I've, I've to know LaTonya know her story cause she, she worked with me in, in one of our focus groups or mastermind groups. And, um, so I know a little bit of her story, uh, that LaTonya tells folks, um, just maybe a, I guess maybe a good question is what has surprised you most about your first year in private practice?

LaTonya Shelton:
Oh, that's a great question. What has surprised me most is that I learned that I really can do more, uh, than I originally thought that I could. I am a dreamer, but I'm an equal part dreamer and hard worker. I'm a very boot on the ground. You use that term a lot going. Uh, and uh, so it has surprised me that I've made it further than I thought that I could when I first started this journey, maybe in my head, about five years ago in my head, I started this journey and to actually be here now making my own money and doing the hard work that it takes along with that is very rewarding.

Gordon Brewer:
Yeah. Yeah. And I know one of the things that we talked about before we started recording was just, um, the fact that you w one of the things that you've kind of figured out along the way is doing it kind of your own way and just and the importance of self-care. So you want to say some more about that?

LaTonya Shelton:
Sure, sure. Doing things your own way. I'll, I'll start there and kind of weave into the self-care. It is so, um, easy. I call myself a self-starter. Uh, it is so easy to get overwhelmed and inundated with all of the information that's out there. There's a lot of opportunity for, uh, mastermind groups such as your owns, um, and other business coaching information out there. And it's so easy to get overwhelmed and so to just take the pieces that you need and to simply start, just start somewhere, you're not going to get it right and perfect in the beginning. But that's the beauty of starting and moving forward on a journey. And you ask me about, uh, self-care for it. That is such a buzzword these days. Some of the self-care that I engage in with, uh, it's very simple. It is enjoying a cup of coffee most mornings with my dog walking in the park, uh, in, that probably sounds so cliche, but it really does work for me.

LaTonya Shelton:
I don't, I call myself very internally resourced, meaning that I don't have a lot of external resources by way of people and, and just groups that I, that I am actively a part of. Um, but the resources that I do have that are around me, um, my mom, I have to say that. So, uh, talk with her a lot when she notices that, you know, Hey, you sound a little this way, this evening's everything. Okay. And if there's something that I need to just kind of share with her, you know, that Oh, I just needed encouragement and she's there to give me that. So doing the things that really get you out in nature is helpful. Reading and talking to and being around people that really support you. That has been the crux of my self-care in addition to all the beautifying things.

Gordon Brewer:
There is so much information out there now just around being able to, um, start a private practice, how to go about it and everybody has their own span to it. Uh, but I think you find, like you said, uh, and the one thing I love that you said there was you just start somewhere and it doesn't really matter where you start, you just start somewhere because, um, that's, I guess that's why I have such an affinity for, uh, for LaTonya is that we're both dreamers and yeah. Again, I'm always been accused of getting my head lost in the clouds. I was that kid, I was that kid in school. They're called out for daydreaming too much. I think it's just a finding something and just starting there and you're exactly right. LaTonya will never get it exactly right the first time, but you've got to, you've got to take that leap and you gotta make that jump.

LaTonya Shelton:
You do. You do. And I have to for those of who are those of you who may be listening and thinking boy, will I ever be able to do it. You know, and all of those kinds of thoughts you may have in your mind around I'm too old or I don't know enough or I know too much or I, you know, I, I, there's, you know, the kind of like limited thinking. I want to encourage you to really throw that out the window first say thank you because it's just trying to protect you all right? And then you want to be able to ask it to exit left so that you can show up and do the work that you really want to do. And so I'm speaking from, that's what I had to do. So I'm an equal dreamer, but I'm also a planner. I love to be organized and learning to balance that as well as be flexible has been helpful as well.

LaTonya Shelton:
So I would say if you're listening to this podcast and you're wondering, you know, should I go into private practice, can I do it? Is it realistic? Can I get a panel kind of panel myself through insurance companies? You can do any and all of that and it's going to be scary and there's going to be peaks and valleys, but just start and you'll find your way and you'll meet great people like Gordon and some of the other folks that I met in the focus group, his mastermind group that we'll be able to encourage you along the way.

Gordon Brewer:
Right, right. Yeah. And so I'm just curious, over this past year as you have just kinda taken off and run, started running with the ball, so to speak, what have been the, what have been the pain points for you along the way would you say?

LaTonya Shelton:
So some pain points for me, um, have been the one that, the not knowing there's going to be a lot of not knowing. Um, and that can be, um, off-putting at times because you, you really want this thing to work. You may have some things riding on it, like finances and you know, maybe people depending on you. So, um, it was not the journey, not being predictable. Um, has, I could speak on that being a pain point. I really had to work with myself there to say, and this is a mantra that I, um, that I, that I made up an affirmation that I chose this and I'm willing to do what's necessary. And so when things get really hard and things get really tough on tired or a little bit discouraged, I say that another pain point has been the concerns and worry about, well, I have enough clients, you know, that first startup phase, you know, you get your first client or your first five clients and you wonder, okay, is this really sustainable?

I'm learning how to market, like all of the things that are very new to what would cause your business to be sustainable. And that's what we really want. We want to scale it and grow. So that's been a pain point. Uh, kind of not knowing and then deciding what marketing avenues, um, worrying about, okay, you know, our clients really gonna show up. Do I really know what I'm talking about? Am I a great therapist? So you really, at some point, sometimes I'll say maybe not for all-star too, maybe even question, you know, your skill level. I think I'm in the field. It's um, the imposter syndrome is what they call it. So these are just natural progressions that come up. So those were some of the pain points for me.

Gordon Brewer:
I think, um, you know, I think the thing that again, that resonates with me is just the fact that you've been just so persistent with everything. In other words, you've, you know, you've, you've kinda gone into it with a mindset of, okay, I know I'm going to hit some rocky patches here, but I can handle that and not just letting that shut you down kind of thing.

LaTonya Shelton:
Yes. That's, that's been really important, um, to, to really keep in mind because you know, you may find yourself at any point upon when you're on this learning journey, comparing yourself to, Oh, I should be further along, or I'm not doing enough, or I'm doing too much, or I'm not doing the right things. In the right way. Um, so being able to just stop, and this is where the kind of the yoga training comes in to step back, to take a breath and maybe even to take a second breath and to really think about, you know, the why is what they say. I hear you say that Gordon a lot, you know, why, why is this important? And you can also ask, I ask myself why now that helps me to be able to decipher between something that emotionally I'm just trying to tie, I'm tied to getting done as opposed to something that needs to be done in order to keep the business of the why is important. Why now? Because there could be a deviation from that. So I use this, I'm just not, you know, kind of making this up and sounding, you know, I really saved this too.

Gordon Brewer:
I love that. I love that question. Why now? Because I think, I think it's really important to recognize, you know, as we, as we grow our practices, as we, you know, keep doing what we're doing and all that sort of thing is to recognize the fact that there are seasons to it. Um, yeah. And to be able to recognize what your, what season you're in, is, is now the right time for this or should I wait or should I just put it the way the back burner or, um, yeah, those are, I think those are brilliant questions to be asking, um, as you go through this.

LaTonya Shelton:
One other thing, I will share that amongst, uh, gathering the information just along this journey. There's a wonderful podcast out there. Uh, Gordon's a practice of the therapy podcast amongst others are out there and you don't know this Gordon, what I want to share something you inspired me. Yeah. You don't know this, so I'm going to share it with you now. It's okay. Really quick. And so I don't remember what, what podcast was. I think it was one of the earlier podcasts you had done and I just remember hearing the excitement in your voice when you said, Hey, this is our first plot podcast. So hearing other people be excited helps me be excited as well. But you gave some very helpful advice around when is it time to kind of jump from. If you're working and you're, you're, you're migrating your way into private practice, you had given a suggestion and I hope I get this right.

LaTonya Shelton:
Um, that may be saving three months of income before you jump into private practice. And it could be even the part-time just to have a little cushion. Um, that can be helpful. And if you don't have three months, save two months, sorry, remember your kind of language, I don't know if you recall this, this guy, so it was one of your earlier ones, but I held onto that because I had a huge fear around what if I don't make enough to be able to pay my bills and all the things that anxiety, you know, kind of brings about. But yes, Gordon. So it was what you said helped to kind of really stick in my mind to say, you know what, I still have my full-time job and this was months before and let me be able to kind of save as much as I can and slowly shift and migrate into private practice. And I did that and it worked

Gordon Brewer:
Yeah, I think what you're talking about is just the importance of, I think as people move into private practice, um, you know, there's, it's a scary step. I mean, that just kinda goes without saying. Uh, but I think you can kind of ease some of the anxiety by knowing that you've got kind of your financial house in order and you've got that buffer. I like to call it that financial buffer. And you're exactly right. I say at the very least save up two months of income and expenses. So if you did nothing, I mean, if you, if you just went and sat on the beach for two months and did nothing, um, you would have everything covered. But they're conscious, you don't want to sit on the beach where, you know, if you want to, you can sit on the beach for two months, but, uh, but, but, but having that buffer there just takes away a lot of the anxiety around that, all of that. So, yeah. Yeah. So, well, the other thing that is really intriguing, um, to me, LaTonya, as you said before we started recording, um, you're full, I mean, in terms of your practice is full, so a big question. How'd you do it?

LaTonya Shelton:
Yeah. Oh, let me, let me say I've been full. I've been turning folks away, um, since October. So that was, you know, at the yeah. So that wasn't even my year. That was like seven, eight months in. Um, and so one, it's a wonderful, you know, we gooey goal to have gotten to, but it's stressful as well because then you think, you know, what does this mean? But how did I get there, I think was your question. Um, uh, several avenues. So I signed up for directories that I knew would be helpful to me it boards or for clients to, to gain that visibility. I'm also paneled with, for insurance companies. And so if you, you know, they find the processes, they encourage you to get on their websites and just kind of, you know, have your listing current and active and so clients can find you.

LaTonya Shelton:
Um, there's also, um, being an African American female therapists, um, is really important, um, a really important vantage, I would say for people of color and other minorities who are looking for diverse clinicians or specific conditions of color. And so I actually joined a directory therapy for black girls and, uh, join that directory and have gotten a lot of responses for, um, folks who are looking for, for clinicians of color. And so there's again, the psychology today. So the basic marketing direct directories for clinicians, but also looking at other directories. For example, therapy, Dan, um, other directories where folks who are looking for diverse clinicians can be seen. So those were the ways that I dated and also have a website, you know, so that's, you know, part of the, kind of the foundation of how I was able to do what, everyone doesn't have a website. If you don't have one, you probably need one. Um, there are some good recommendations out there. So all of that has just really amassed, um, a good, a good buzz. And also folks that have been waiting for me to go into private practice, you know, they're like, I'll wait for you. So it's been, um, it's been, uh, it's been good. It's been scary. It's been very scary at times, but I just kept going.

Gordon Brewer:
Yeah. Well, and the, and the other thing too that's probably helped you with that, and you kind of alluded to this and just knowing Latanya and kind of knowing some of her stories, she's very well connected with her community. Um, just with, in several areas you've just kind of been established where you, where you are. And so, as you said, people are, when they found out you were in private practice, they were flocking to you and then they're probably referring friends to you and yeah. And all of that sort of thing. And so it's really, you know, that's really kind of the key is just, it's, it's relationship building. That's all it is. Um, and just whether it's online or you know, in person and that sort of thing. And so that's, that's great. Yeah.

LaTonya Shelton:
Tend to be that, that type of person. Um, there are parts of me that that tends to be an introvert. People don't believe it because I'm very excitable and happy and joyous. Um, but talking to people, of course, I'm a clinician is a strength. Uh, you know, so being able to really, um, you know, help people understand the importance of therapy, especially, in communities of, uh, of color. You know, it's looked upon sometimes as not such a wonderful thing, you know, to come to, to come to therapy. So to really be able to be an example of fighting against that stigma.

Gordon Brewer:
Yes, yes. Yeah. And I think that's in many ways that's universal I think is well, and um, you know, I, I think one of the things I have to remind myself is because we work in it, we don't necessarily see the stigma. We don't think of it in that way. But you know, I think a big majority of people saying, well, you know, they're going to see the shrink, you know? So, yeah. So, well, LaTonya, what else would you say would be important for people to know in there, in their early starting times, you know, into private practice?

LaTonya Shelton:
Yeah. So early on, um, you, you've probably thought about this for a while so you probably have some things and ideas written down. Um, I say really go back and reflect on those quite often. Um, some things that are important too, is how you want to be able to establish your business. You know, what type of designation you want to give it. Uh, I'm a key LLC. Um, also being able to kind of join others who are in the field and who are specifically opening up their private practice. Um, if there's some types of groups to join or just colleagues that you know that have done it, um, hold them close, you know, ask them questions. Um, you also want to do the basics with getting you, you know, business banking, um, affairs in order because you, again, you want to, to remain sustainable.

LaTonya Shelton:
You also want to think about that. How you start is maybe not how you will there. There are detours that you will come up against. One of the detours that I'm coming, coming up against is that I'm looking for more ways to add passive income into my practice and not so much stayed with just the direct practice so much. Um, I thought at one point that I wanted to have a group practice and now that's changed. So I'd say if you're starting off leave room for flexibility, so you're growing but you don't want to be so fixed minded where you kind of shut yourself out of other opportunities that can come along the way. Um, other things that you want to be prepared for as much as you can, um, is, you know, really be prepared to get out of your comfort zone. I think that's the most honest, truthful statement. Be prepared to be uncomfortable at times. Yeah. I want to make sure. Haven't gotten off track.

Gordon Brewer:
No, no, no, that's, that's perfect. I think there's a, those are, yeah, you're, you're right on, right on the Mark with all of that. Yeah. Yeah. And just thinking about those first steps in just getting started in private practice in that, that sort of thing. Yeah. What, um, I'm just curious, um, and I don't think I've really been able to ask you this directly, but what would you say, um, with the mastermind group, what was, what was helpful for you with that process?

LaTonya Shelton:
Yes, yes. So that's a great question. Um, one, I want to say that you are so open and giving, uh, Gordon with your information. You want to always check to make sure that, that folks are getting what they need. So that was helpful for me. Um, but what was most helpful is the comradery that was gained as a result of being a part of the group. So there were times in between, you know, being a part of the group that there was an accountability partner that I had and she and I, we would talk, you know, in between sessions, uh, in between meeting times rather. And we were encouragement for one another. What also was helpful is that to see, I refer to myself in the group as the baby, the little man, because everyone else seems to be, you know, so much more well established.

LaTonya Shelton:
And so it was wonderful being able to see how well others have, uh, have done and have gone and they yet, they still had questions, they still had room to grow. So seeing them much further ahead than that, I really gave me some inspiration like, Oh, so it's not that you've reached this peak and then you know, it all, you just, you just hit another peak. So it was wonderful being able to really see, you know, some of the areas in which they, you know, they ask for help and ask for feedback. And even I was able to give some feedback to those who were much more well established than I was. And, uh, so yeah. So the, so the, so the openness and the willingness to kind of listen and be there, uh, and to ask, well, how did that go? LaTonya, you said you wanted to do this, how did it go? Uh, yeah, so, so having that, that feeling around being supported and thought about and then followed up on was really, was really helpful at heart.

Gordon Brewer:
Good. Good. Yeah. Uh, just, uh, I'm glad you said that because that's, that's really, really my hope for the, you know, the focus groups, the mastermind groups is, is for it to be supportive. I mean, that's the whole purpose of doing it. And so, yeah. That's great. That's great. Well, Latanya, I want to be respectful of your time and you know, we could probably spend all day just chatting about stuff and just connecting and, and, um, I, I'm so glad, uh, just, uh, LaTonya is in the Nashville area and fortunately she was not affected by the storms there, but those people that were and neighbors in that sort of, yeah. So, uh, thoughts and prayers for you guys as you recover all of that in your own community. Yeah. So, well tell folks how they can get in touch with you and um, and, and that sort of thing in your website and

LaTonya Shelton:
sure, sure. So, uh, LaTonya Shelton, LCSW, R Y T a, I am a Google-able. Uh, that's a term that's kind of made up, right?

Gordon Brewer:
Yeah, I like that word. Googleable.

LaTonya Shelton:
So, uh, you can find out more about me or read jasper@wwwdotredjaspercounseling.com and I'm available on most, some of the most more common, um, directories for therapists. And, uh, yeah, I, I really appreciate this opportunity to be able to,

Gordon Brewer:
yeah. Well, I, I'm pretty sure we'll be hearing more from LaTonya cause, uh, in my mind, she's a, she's a, she's a bright star, number one, but she's also a rising stars. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So, yeah. So, well, Latanya, thanks again for being on the podcast and we'll hear from you again, I'm sure.

LaTonya Shelton:
Thanks, Gordon. I appreciate you.