August 15, 2019 by Anna

Self Care for New Therapists

Self Care for Therapists – New and Seasoned

It’s been a dream of mine to help coach newly graduated therapists and newly licensed therapists within the area of self care.

The self care that I offer (through coaching) and (throughout this website) is about mindset. Decluttering our negative limiting beliefs to create the mindset shift needed to help you grow. To help you get unstuck. To believe in yourself and shine the light within you bright.

There is so much depth to self care and I truly believe it starts with exercising not only our physical body (which is so very important) but also our our mind. Nourishing what we put into not only our body but also nourishing what we put into our mind each and every day.

This starts with information that we are consuming. Does it help elevate you? Lift you up and help you grow? If not, I wonder if it could be helpful for you to consider what tweaks might be needed to help in this area. It’s such a personal and individual decision – what to consume both for our bodies and mind. I’d like to offer the opportunity for you to start becoming aware of what you’re consuming and it’s impact. And if any tweaks are needed, then you can adjust as you see fit.

For me, one routine I’ve adopted is listening to podcasts. Some are education oriented. And some are motivational. Some are business related. Some are geared toward dealing with life’s stressors.

I’ve found that podcasts are a great way for me to consume some good nutrition for my mind. For my brain.

What are some things you do?

Self Care | Mental Floss

Have you ever heard of this term, mental floss? It’s basically daily nutrition for your brain and mind. I’ve found that it’s important to try and get some “mental floss” in at least one time a day. Just like flossing your teeth!

Try it…see what you think. Let me know how it’s working for you.

Decluttering Negative Influences

There are times in our lives where it becomes necessary to enter into a new season. A new season in your life. For some, this can mean purging what’s holding them back and letting go of what no longer serves them. Sometimes this can mean re-evaluating negative influences in your life. Whether these are friends, colleagues, family members, etc. sometimes there are seasons in our lives where we begin to assess what’s needed in our lives at this moment.

As you enter this new stage in your professional life, part of self care from my vantage point is beginning to look at decluttering negative influences that are keeping you stuck. That are not offering you the opportunity to grow into the person you are becoming. I sincerely believe one key to this letting go is to acknowledge through gratitude all that you have experienced in these relationships and that you are letting go with love. Both for yourself and for the other.

Finding Support

Whether it’s through friends, church, a therapist, etc. finding a community or a person that you can talk with about struggles and successes. A community or person that can help you walk the path you envision for yourself.

If you’re interested in a coach to help you with this, please reach out. I love helping new therapists establish self care routines early in their career that they can continue building on for many years to come.

August 5, 2019 by Anna

Mindset Shifts That Can Positively Impact Your Life

Mindset Shifts That Can Change Your Life

When starting out as a new therapist, new mama, new anything…there can be a lot of fear that shows up. Heck, fear still shows up in seasoned therapists too…but it doesn’t have to rule the show. You can overcome fear and shift your mindset so that you are living the life you want.

Saying Yes Even When Feeling Fear

So this can be a hard one sometimes but it can be so empowering. When fear creeps in and makes you start thinking negative thoughts or keeping you stuck, realize that you can say OK to these thoughts and still take an action while feeling them. You might not feel like it. But do it anyway. Let me say that again…sometimes we might not feel like doing something but we do it anyway. We show up anyway. This is what I’d like to offer you to think about when fear is creeping in.

Make Choices and Know You Can Change Your Mind

You are empowered to make your own choices. You can create the life and business you want. You! You have the ability to do this! And, you can change your mind and shift direction if needed. You have the ability to do this. Try something out.

Therapist example: If you’re wanting to work with certain clients (for example) or if you’re wanting to make changes to the way you work (as another example), try it. Take a step. See if you love it. And if you need to tweak it, then tweak it. You’re not stuck in what you decide. You can change your mind. But taking a step is the first part.

New mama juggling life and work example: If you’re wanting to move your schedule around, or maybe see more clients online to free up some time, so that you can have the life you want, try it. Take a step. See if it works for you and if not, see what needs tweaking.

Remind Yourself of Your Accomplishments

You’ve made it this far. If you’re in your graduate program – you’ve made it this far. If you’re gathering your hours toward full licensure – you’ve made it this far. If you’ve received your license – you’ve made it this far. Trust in that! Trust in you!

You have the skills needed. Yes, there will be times where you might question that. But then, another day will happen where you’ll feel like “wow, I’m pretty good at this!” Trust that thoughts are fleeting and when a negative one comes in that has you questioning your abilities, remember the positive ones! Remember that you’ve felt differently just the other day! Remember that you are helping people. You are providing a service that only you can provide and that’s such a huge benefit to all that you are helping.

Mindset Coaching

If you need help with this, please reach out. Or, if you’d like more articles/podcast episodes on this topic, please contact me and let me know…

July 30, 2019 by Anna

Trusting Your Inner Voice | Ways to Trust Yourself

Trust: Trusting Your Inner Voice / Trusting Yourself!

Hi there graduating and new therapists! I wanted to spend some time on the important subject of trusting yourself, trusting your inner voice, your inner guide.

Sometimes it can be hard to hear our inner voice…but it’s there. We might just need to quiet the external noise so that we can connect more with ourselves. With our inner state so that we can hear what we need more clearly so that we can then make decisions that fuel and inspire us.

Circling back to how this relates to you as your enter your new profession. Or, maybe you’re also a new mom and juggling how to grow your private practice and also balance new parenthood. Wherever you are in this journey, I hope this speaks to you…

As you enter this new transition. This new stage in your life, there can sometimes be a lot of external noise that can impact your decisions. External noise can often come in the form of other’s opinions of what is best for you. Other’s guidance on what they think you should do. And some of this might be extremely helpful and welcomed…but what I’m more talking about is the noise that confuses you. That takes you off of your path. That makes you think…”am I doing this wrong?” Sometimes this is a helpful thought, it can help us change direction that’s actually helpful. But, this isn’t what I’m talking about in this post…I’m referring more about the fuzziness this can create in you. The indecision it can result in.

That’s the noise I’m referring to.

And that’s where quieting the external noise to get back to what matters to you is so important.

When It Comes To Your Private Practice Building

You can create the private practice that you want. You can!

It might take time to build but you can start to take the steps needed now. Whatever those steps are. If it’s looking for office space, building an online presence, networking, finding a supervisor, etc. Take one action toward making your dreams a reality. Take that one step today.

Maybe that one step is vision planning. Maybe you’re in creation mode and are brainstorming what you want. Take that step. Start that vision planning. Create your goals. Maybe think about creating flexible quarterly goals that can help keep you on the path you envision. If you need help with this, I can help you, just reach out and we can work together through coaching calls to get you started.

Clearing Out the Noise and Connecting With Your Inner Voice

Some ideas on how to quiet the noise…

If you like being out in nature, go on a walk. Or, sit at a park. Go outside and be with yourself. Take in the surroundings and use this time to connect inward. Quiet the chatter thoughts and try to stay present in the moment. I find that the more present we are, the more creative we can be!
I also find that exercising is another way to connect to my inner voice. I find that it helps me clear out the external clutter and helps me reconnect to me. For me this is usually when I’m on a run…but for you it might be something different. Whatever it is, this could be one way to reconnect to yourself.
Meditate. Take some quiet time to breath. You don’t have to be an expert meditator, what I mean more is just take some time to breath and focus on that breathing to calm and relax our mind and body. It can be a walking meditation. Or one where you are sitting. Where you are allowing yourself to be present with your breath and allowing your mind and body to relax.

Coaching If You’d Like Help With This

Please let me know if you’d like support and help with this…and also let me know if you’d like more blog articles on this or other topics.

July 20, 2019 by Anna

Overcoming Negative Beliefs : Ways to Break Through Limiting Beliefs

Tips on Overcoming Negative Beliefs

Breaking through our limiting beliefs and overcoming negative beliefs that can sometimes keep us stuck can be one of the most difficult things to do. It can definitely derail progress toward making your goals happen. When these negative beliefs pop up, they are usually based in fear.

Fear is such a big term that can mean so many things. And in this case, I’m referring to how it impacts our thoughts and how it can halt us in our tracks.

Whether you are building your private practice dreams, making your home into an organized oasis, or taking time to balance all that you do…being a mom, being a career driven person, etc. limiting beliefs can make these goals come to a screeching halt.

So, what’s a girl to do? 🙂

First off…Where Do Beliefs Come From?

Ever thought about this? Ever wondered…”wow” “where did that thought come from?”

Beliefs can come from a number of places…

from our life experiences
from our past circumstances
from our surroundings, environments, nature/nurture
from our past mistakes, successes, learning opportunities
from our future vision and goals
from knowledge and skills we’ve learned along the way

Beliefs are both positive and negative.

Think about when you decided to go to graduate school to become a therapist. Or, when you decided to start a family. There were positive beliefs associated. Beliefs that lifted you up. Created a future vision and goals for yourself and for your family.

On the flip side of positive beliefs are our negative beliefs. The ones that get in and limit us. The ones we believe and keep us from living our best lives.

So, why are we believing these limiting beliefs? What’s making them win over the positive ones? And where do the positive ones go when the negative ones take over?

It Begins With Decluttering the Mind

Changing our mindset is the first step. Decluttering our thoughts can greatly change the way we see things. The way we think about things.

It’s nutrition for our minds.

Let’s start with what are we putting into our minds each and every day. Are there messages that we are receiving that strengthen these limiting beliefs?

What can you do to change what you are exposing your mind and thoughts to each day?

One thing I do is guard (the best I can) what I’m putting into my mind. From what I listen to, to what I read. This has become an exercise I have learned to build over the years (and still learning).

When fear starts to creep in and limiting negative beliefs start to overwhelm me and keep me stuck, I reach for support. Support in the way of positive messages from podcasts, books, music, etc. Decluttering our mind really does begin with what are we putting in there to begin with. And from there we can start to make some subtle shifts toward decluttering and becoming clearer and more focused.

Overcoming Limiting Beliefs Also Begins With Realizing All of Your Successes

Realize your potential! Realize what you have already accomplished in your life. What you’ve learned through all you’ve been through. You are a wealth of knowledge and experience. Tap into that. Let that empower you. Help you believe in YOU. In your abilities.

Coaching Help

Sometimes we need a little help with overcoming negative limiting beliefs. Having someone that can coach you through decluttering all that’s interfering with what you’re wanting in your life. Having a hand to hold (so to speak) when you need it. If you’re wanting some support and coaching through this, please reach out. We can talk about the best ways we can work together to help you get where you’re wanting to be.