DAKOTA GRASS: LIFE AS A NEW CANADIAN PRIVATE PRACTICE OWNER | EP 168
Have you felt a pull to starting and running your group private practice? Are you ready to trade the security of being an employee for someone else’s business for the freedom of being your own boss?
In today’s episode, I speak with Dakota about why (and how) she stopped working for other people and started working for herself. She enjoyed being in a group private practice so much that she wanted to start her own!
Join us today to hear more about how she made the transition, how it’s going now, and about an easy trick you can use to boost your Psychology Today profile ranking online!
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MEET DAKOTA
Dakota (she/her) is a registered social worker with a Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology who owns Down to Earth Counselling and Consultation in London, Ontario. As a neurodivergent, queer, cisgender woman and White settler based in London, Ontario, she offers relational, client-centered psychotherapy to children, youth, young adults, and couples. Dakota values authenticity and connection, showing up as a human first and a therapist second. Her work focuses on fostering meaningful therapeutic relationships and supporting clients in deepening their connections with themselves and others.
Learn more about Dakota on her practice website, LinkedIn, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles.
In This Episode
- Becoming a therapist
- Opening her own private practice
- Peer consulting with other therapists
- How to boost your Psychology Today profile
- Dakota’s advice for listeners
Becoming a therapist
‘Going back about ten years ago, I started off working in the field as a child and youth healthcare practitioner. I worked on the frontline in several different organisations, primarily with kids who had experienced trauma and would have difficulties as a result of those experiences. I loved that work, but I wanted to do something a little more clinical.’ – Dakota Grass
Once Dakota realized that she wanted to spend more time working in a clinical setting, she went back to school to become a therapist.
‘After my social work degree, I went to school for my Master’s in Counselling Psychology … And through my Master’s level practicum, I started [working] with a group practice and stayed with them for two years, and I loved working for [them]!’ – Dakota Grass
Opening her own private practice
‘Because I loved the community feel of the group practice so much, I thought to myself, “I love this, but I also want to create my version of this kind of community.” Now, I’m starting solo, but with the goal to create a group practice!’ – Dakota Grass
Now, Dakota has launched her private practice and intends to expand it into a group practice. Dakota has surprised herself with enjoying the business side of running a private practice more than she thought she would.
This aspect of being a private practice owner, the fact that you can do multiple things throughout the week, makes it more interesting, nuanced, and diverse.
‘It’s nice to do therapy for a bit, run the business for a bit, the podcast for a bit, mix it up!’ – Jules Smith
Peer consulting with other therapists
One of Dakota’s values, upon which she founded her Canadian private practice, is connection, and that includes the connection she has with her clients and also with her fellow clinicians and practice owners.
‘I like to consult with other therapists and just connect with other therapists in the community through events and through social media is really important to me.’ – Dakota Grass
Dakota uses Instagram mostly to connect with other therapists, and also for her marketing efforts.
How to boost your Psychology Today profile
About once a week, Dakota will edit something small on her Psychology Today profile, which boosts it on webpage searches.
‘It bumps you back up because you have just edited something … I do notice after I update [it] that I will get a couple of inquiries typically. Not every time! But it has worked for me!’ – Dakota Grass
It’s not the only thing you need to do to get your marketing schedule working well! However, when you often edit and update your socials, it shows Google and other platforms that your website or listing is active, and Google favours that.
When client conversions are slow, Dakota will take the time that she would have spent seeing clients into marketing her practice, broadening its reach, and increasing her efforts to find new clients in the upcoming days or weeks.
Dakota’s advice for listeners
The growth that comes with starting a private practice often requires embracing uncertainty and learning curves! Reflect on these hurdles in the road, and know that they are part of the journey. So, keep going!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 167: Ali Joy Richardson and Neil Silcox: Running a Successful Practice as a Couple | EP 167
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!
Learn more about Dakota on her practice website, LinkedIn, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn
About Jules Smith
Jules Smith, MEd, RCT, CCC is a registered Counselling Therapist who owns a group private practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They are also the owner of Fearless Practice Consulting and hosts the Fearless Practice podcast. Through the Fearless Practice podcast, they provide invaluable insights and practical advice on starting and growing a successful Canadian private practice.
Jules also has written articles for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy association. You can learn more at www.ccpa-accp.ca/blog/.
