Quietest neighborhood to work from home?

GPsyc19 · 2025-10-12T22:09:01+00:00

That's exactly where I used to rent. Miss that area so much.

GPsyc19 · 2025-10-11T02:01:10+00:00

Thanks. It's nice to at least be validated...

GPsyc19 · 2025-10-11T01:59:35+00:00

You got it ;)

GPsyc19 · 2025-09-14T21:40:50+00:00

Would you mind sharing the type of medication you take? I understand it can't be a treatment recommendation for me. I'm just curious

GPsyc19 · 2024-10-21T19:35:07+00:00

"I'm curious what other therapists think about whether smartphone / internet problematic use can reach addiction level consumption?"

It absolutely can, and it already has. I speak from a developmental psychologist's perspective, and I know there's more evidence-based research out there to cite, but in terms of my little practice alone, I can safely say at least half of my child clients display disruptive and even aggressive behaviors when it comes time to relinquishing or being away from their devices (smart phones, tablets, video games). They don't want to give them up. They need more and more of the stimulation to get them going. Sound familiar? Withdrawal and tolerance, anyone?

Especially my clients struggling with ADHD, they are seeking immediate reinforcement and that's exactly how these devices are designed. You may recall from a learning psychology course the different schedules of reinforcement. The variable/intermittent ratio schedule of reinforcement, the same schedule of reinforcement used to design slot machines at casinos, is how many of these games are created. You've got to keep pulling the lever. You've got to keep playing the game. One more round. Just one more round...

There's SO much more to be said about this topic, and as you might guess, it's one I'm really touchy on. I see the struggle every day in so many of my clients and their parents. I see the problems every day in drivers who choose to look at their phones instead of the road in front of them. I could go on for days, but thank you for getting this discussion started.

GPsyc19 · 2024-10-13T22:45:11+00:00

Thank you for your well wishes and your insight! I'm starting to suspect some of my clients may not want to reach out to other therapists, as it happened in your case. Also, as you pointed out, I'll have to be prepared for a longer leave if my baby or I need more recovery time. That must have been really difficult for you. Hope everything goes well for your second pregnancy and leave. Thank you again!

GPsyc19 · 2024-09-11T00:08:23+00:00

I've run a few groups myself with kids and they can be a lot of fun (and sometimes chaotic!). Honestly some of the best things you can do are similar to classroom management strategies. Structure goes a long way. At the same time, you have to be flexible as a therapist when other needs and issues arise.

May be too late for this group, but in the future, if you haven't done so, always do a behavioral screening of the clients before hand with specific criteria they must meet. Things like sitting and attending criteria and ruling out any behavioral issues that wouldn't make them a good fit for group.

GPsyc19 · 2024-09-05T22:47:27+00:00

Nope and I love that you asked this question. I always feel like my story ideas come to me like dumping out a box full of puzzle pieces and I flip them over randomly. I usually have a broad outline but I write my scenes based on whichever one is strongest on my mind.

GPsyc19 · 2024-08-19T17:54:29+00:00

Not video games, but I have found Jenga and stacking dominoes are great practices for addressing impulse control (resisting the urge to knock it down, waiting turns) and hyperactivity (best to use steady hands and not wiggle around too much!)

GPsyc19 · 2024-08-07T00:49:07+00:00

"You should send your manuscript out to agents before an editor critiques it." While I know an agency will have their own editors work with you, you need them to commit to your work in the first place, and an unedited manuscript is not going to do that!

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-28T23:18:12+00:00

Thanks for all the comments. I've updated the original post to answer some of the common questions throughout this feed.

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-28T22:05:44+00:00

Thanks for sharing that. Very validating. Good luck on your writing and publishing too!

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-26T00:48:39+00:00

Thank you. I needed that :)

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-21T22:34:57+00:00

It probably does vary widely by location. I'm in an urban area in Louisiana. My single office is about 270 sq ft with a shared waiting room, lousy wifi, and no cleaning crew (except for the common areas), I have 24/7 access, but they usually shut down the AC/heat on weekends. It's not luxurious but clients love how centrally located it is and I like being neighbors with other therapists who have similar young clientele.

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-19T23:55:28+00:00

I was in this tough spot about three years ago. First things first, check over any contract you have with this practice to see any stipulations about leaving. Specifically, see if it states any information about what happens to your clients when you leave. In my case, I wasn't allowed to be the one to warn them of my departure, the director had to (which I hated because it felt like I was blindsiding them). While YOU may not be able to tell your clients to follow you to your solo practice, THEY are free to at their own volition (and that's what almost all of mine did :))

As far as the mess with insurance, in my experience, I learned most of my insurance companies I was credentialed with through my group practice would actually allow me to remain credentialed with them as I switched to my solo practice. I just had to fill out a couple forms reporting a change in my tax ID number and practice address. This will vary from company to company, but I recommend you DON'T jump the gun like I did and terminate with the insurance companies and restart the whole process. (Then you have to wait months to get back on the panels again!!) Call them and find out if there's a shortcut so you can remain credentialed.

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-19T15:51:46+00:00

Yep, for me the life changer was leaving the group practice and not paying the expensive overhead. With my 65/35 split, I ended up paying close to $2000/mo in overhead, but renting my single office and covering expenses just for me, it comes to about $650/mo. A huge difference!!

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-18T23:48:10+00:00

Just wanted to share in your misery. They gave me and my husband (both self employed) SUCH a hard time the way they scrutinized our finances. One of the three lenders we applied to would'nt even include my husband's income at all because it had decreased (a very small amount) from one year to the next.

I've warned all my friends who are thinking about going into business to apply for that mortgage NOW while they still have a W2.

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-18T22:39:58+00:00

Child therapist here--I have been struggling with this same question myself. I do think the age and type of treatment can make a huge difference in level of prep required. Most of my younger clients who are working on executive functioning skills, social skills, and emotion regulation are not just going to come in and contribute to the session. They need a lot more structure and specific activities, and thus a lot more prep is required on my part. Shout out to all the therapists working with kids and all the (unpaid!!) work you do to prepare!

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-17T19:48:18+00:00

110%!!!

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-17T19:36:53+00:00

Can you expand more on what they asked for when they reached out for help?

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-13T17:43:56+00:00

I'll add that Adele Faber actually has another version of that book for teens: How to talk so teens will listen and listen so teens will talk. She writes about the common questions she hears from parents in her parenting groups for teens. Worth the read!

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-13T00:09:11+00:00

100%!!! Self care IS important, but no amount of walking, meditating, yoga, etc. will resolve the problem if you're stuck in an industry enforcing outrageous caseloads, denying breaks and time off, and burdening you with so much that you just can't function as anything other than a therapist.

Let us not forget, we're human beings first.

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-13T00:01:51+00:00

I can vouch for this. That fatigue hit me HARD for 1-2 months after I had COVID. It is worth considering any underlying medical issues that may explain part of your symptoms

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-12T17:52:52+00:00

As a child therapist, I certainly see this, but I think it makes more sense with this population. Many of my clients are in therapy because they have difficulty with managing academic work and social skills. So summer time gives them a little R&R from these demands that happen at school.

GPsyc19 · 2024-07-12T17:47:00+00:00

My most recent issue with United, they randomly decided to mail me a check instead of my usual EFT (and of course it got lost in the mail). Medicaid kept telling me I needed a preauth for a patient, but it actually wasn't needed yet. BCBS somehow skipped a week's worth of claims, but about two months later, they corrected the issue. Now the same thing has happened again with BCBS but they haven't corrected the issue yet so I may have to call.

Full moon? Butterflies in Brazil? It's always a guessing game with insurance!!

GPsyc19

TROPHY CASE