Brad Eardley, MA.
1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?
Broad Meadow Cooperative provides both therapy and coaching.
On the therapy side, I specialize in couple therapy and adult individual therapy.
On the coaching side, I offer Dream Career Revival, a 13-week program that helps burnt-out professionals transition into a purpose-driven dream career.
Any person who is tired of suffering and is ready for change will be a great fit at Broad Meadow Cooperative.
2. Tell us about yourself.
I never thought I'd be a therapist/coach, but I've always enjoyed helping people, working hard, and growing as a person. It wasn't until my late 20s that I got my master's in Marriage & Family Therapy. My first job out of grad school was in a community mental health center in an under-resourced community north of Boston, Massachusetts. I stayed there for 13 years, until I opened my business. My clients' abilities to survive, to humbly seek change, and to commit to it inspires me everyday.
3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.
I'm truly proud of and inspired by every brave action that any client ever takes, so this is a hard question to answer. But one of my Dream Career Revival clients recently sent me a super enthusiastic and expletive-laden text message. He was so elated because not only had he landed a dream job, he had recognized that he had done so PRIMARILY by holding onto his values and believing in his own worth, as he navigated the recruitment and interview process. AMAZING insight from many brave actions.
4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?
It's a developmental process. There are initial challenges prior to opening your doors. Then there are challenges in Year 1 as you experience so many situations for the first time. Then there are challenges to maintain your business and do that work-life balance. Than there are challenges around deciding whether and how to grow your business. For me, the most important aspect of business success is to move past the succeed/fail paradigm and look at everything as a learning opporunity.
5. What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a private practice today?\
There are so many resources online now, but I'm offering the following tips for starting a private practice:
- Move past the succeed/fail paradigm and see everything as a learning opportunity.
- Take ownership of and become curious about your beliefs about making money.
- Surround yourself with professional supports (attorney, CPA, financial advisor, clinical mentor or peer group).