Angela Stevens MS, LMFT
1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?
My practice focus primarily targets high-conflict divorce and traversing family court trauma and grief. I also take on some court required supervised visitation to offer therapeutic age appropriate visits for non-custodial parents.
Additionally, I enjoyed learning about the works of Dr. Sue Johnson so, another part of this work I enjoy is emotionally focused training for couples so they can rebuild their attachments and strengthen their bond together.
2. Tell us about yourself.
I do this part time, as I have a full time career within the field of human resources. However, what motivates me the most to have become credentialed to do this type of work is personal experience and wanting to help stop the suffering that is often a result of family court outcomes.
3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.
One patient I was most proud of helping was a young 16 y/o female who suffered with anorexia nervosa. She also suffered with social anxiety and depression. After she started seeing me, within just a few months she went from being non-verbal to telling me her life story openly with a smile on her face. I also was able to collaborate with her PCP to help her with the right medication to gain weight so she could become a healthy weight again. I was a part of teaching her confidence and nutrition.
4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?
For me the hardest part of being a practitioner is feeling that my knowledge and words are going to be adequate enough to make a positive, long-term difference in the lives of those that entrust me with their most intimate and private matters. In many ways I can relate to them; in other ways I study a lot to properly prepare so I can offer them relief and teach them new life skills and how to get in touch with their inner strength using strengths based therapy.
5. What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a private practice today?\
Here are my three tips:
- Visualize what you want: If you want a practice, start small. Rent a place until you build a client base or network of professionals who know your work and will send clients your way.
- Be willing to take risks: Its never going to be exactly as you want it as you go through this journey. It can be worse or better, and you just have to roll with the punches and keep on.
- Never give up: Do you everyday relentlessly. No one is going to do it for you!