Brittani D’Andrea, LCSW .
1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?
My practice focus reaches out to so many individuals because of my wholistic approach. Most of them, at the current time, deal with addressing mood disorders, transitions, relationship issues, divorce, co-parenting, and domestic violence.
2. Tell us about yourself.
I have always been interested in psychology and social work. From a teenager, up until now, I have always been the go-to person. Even when I’m not practicing professionally, I’m always the person my friends come to. Once I began my educational experience, I knew I wanted to venture off into private practice. I obtained a specialization in my Masters Program in Social Work and Law. Now I am certified as a Guardian Ad Litem as well after working in the Court system for 9 years.
3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.
One of my first initial client’s I had, he did a complete 180 after about one and a half to two years. He came into the office with no eye contact and playing with his hair, no real affect. I taught him some mindfulness and meditation techniques to try and use for his anxiety. After working with him for a while, he was not only practicing the coping skills, he began to research more about the techniques on his own. When we ended his treatment, he was engaging, social, and ready to move on alone.
4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?
The hardest thing of being a practitioner in private practice is saying goodbye. As a clinician, you learn so much about and from your own client’s. You almost become a part of their family because you know everything about them, and then some. When you end that therapeutic relationship, specific client’s pop up in your head from time to time and you wonder and sometimes worry about how they are currently doing.
5. What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a private practice today?\
The top three tips I would give anyone looking to start, run, and grow their private practice is to:
- Networking. Make sure you get your name out there anyway you can. Make friends, join groups online or in person. Make connections as much as possible.
- Have your own therapist. It is necessary to continue with your own therapy as well as have that therapeutic support of your own.
- Learn from others. Ask as many questions you can to other clinicians and how they first started. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so it is helpful to get input from multiple people.