Success Story: Sara
Sara provides LGBTQ+ affirming therapy for individuals, couples, teens and families in Long Beach, CA alongside her team at Prospect Therapy. She specializes in transgender affirming care across the lifespan, high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism, first-generation and bicultural Americans, and LGBTQ+ couples therapy.
How were you feeling before you signed up for Bootcamp?: Overwhelmed but determined. I had a few things going for me before I signed up for Bootcamp: I had the privilege of a full-time job, so I could start my practice slowly and not out of urgency. I also knew that I was ready to do hard work and learn independently. I didn't think it would be "a few simple steps," which was good to know going in. However, the more I clicked around online, read advice articles, and watched videos, the more overwhelming it all got. That cycle of "the more you know, the more you realize you don't know" started getting to me. I looked for programs that would let me be flexible about what I wanted to do but also give me a roadmap and some guidance so I could take steps in the most effective order.
What did your private practice look like before Bootcamp started?: It was a baby practice without a strong identity and very few systems in place. I had a few vague ideas of who I wanted to serve. Like many clinicians with broad experience, I thought I had to help everyone, because that's what was always told to me. I thought, "I have experience with all of these things, I should help these people!" I had my paperwork, an EHR, a website, and was subletting an office space. I had a handful of clients, and was hoping that more would find me.
How do you feel after Business School Bootcamp for Therapists?: Confident, hopeful, and secure. I have a clear vision of my values and goals, and have both a business and clinical rationale for all decisions that I make in my business. This framework helps me make future decisions without second guessing myself. BSB didn't simply tell me what to do, it just asked me the right questions so I could create systems and policies that work for me. Plus, I have a community and network of colleagues that openly share ideas with me.
How have your private practice and life changed after Bootcamp (processes, clinically, work-life balance, financially)?: Bootcamp allowed me to create the business of my dreams, without having to sell out. I'm in alignment with my values and feel proud of how my practice functions. I wouldn't change a thing about it. I don't feel overworked, I can afford to invest in training, I work with my best-fit clients, and I feel like the best therapist I can be, which is really what it's all about!
What would you say to someone else who is on the fence about joining Business School Bootcamp for Therapists?: If you're the type who is going to obsess over your practice and are ready to do a ton of work on it — BSB is a great investment because it will give you a roadmap. Instead of spinning your wheels and trying all types of different things, you can channel your energy in a focused way and get way more payoff on the hours of work you will end up doing anyway. If you are looking for a template that will work without you putting your own energy and resources into it, in other words a "done for you" type of program, BSB is NOT for you.
What do you wish you had known about private practice before you started?: 1. Being an excellent therapist is important, but it's not enough to build your practice. 2. There is a way to harness what you're good at and make it work for you, so that you can spend your time doing exactly that. 3. Competition is a myth that will only hold you back.
