Luis Torres, LMHC.
1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?
Inspira Counseling Center is a group practice that offers services to both English- and Spanish-speaking clients. Throughout my career, I have worked with clients across various diagnoses and situations, including anxiety, depression, adictions and ADHD.
Currently, my clientele primarily consists of young professionals who are grappling with anxiety and adult ADHD.
2. Tell us about yourself.
I have a strong belief in the transformative power of therapy. Mental health struggles can significantly impact one's quality of life and overall well-being. By providing a safe and supportive space for my clients, I seek to empower them to overcome their challenges, cultivate resilience, and lead fulfilling lives. I have also understood the importance of identifying our own strenghts and limitations as a therapist. A private practice provides a better scenario to maximize our effectiveness.
3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.
This particular client had been struggling with depression and anxiety for many years. During her therapy it was revealed that she had undiagnosed ADHD. Therapy provided her with coping mechanisms and strategies to navigate her symptoms. She also discovered that she had unique talents and strengths. She also gained a newfound sense of self-acceptance and resilience. Her journey was a testament to the transformative power of therapy and the profound impact it can have on one's life.
4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?
As I mentioned before, having a private practice provides a sense of freedom to identify and focus on treating the type of issues you are better prepared for treating. The downside is the business aspect of the deal that we do not need to handle in a community clinic. Dealing with insurance companies, accounting, legal structures etc can be a painful learning process. However, I have found that its worth the effort. I would encourage everyone who is in this career path to give it a try.
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:
- Get a good accountant.
- Delegate billing to a trustworthy provider as soon as you can.
- Self Care is super important. We might want to help 100 lives a day but doing so will take a toll. Its important to set up and respect your own schedule. You can help many lives in many years but the amount of years may be short if you burn out.