NANCY GALWAY: DESIGNING A PRIVATE PRACTICE THAT SUPPORTS YOU | EP 207
When you work in the helping profession, it can be taxing. The work can require you to hold space for difficult moments or conversations.
A good way to support yourself first before you go ahead to support someone else is to work a job that serves, rather than hurts, your mental health. This is one of the core pieces of advice that my guest today, Nancy, shares with us.
She pivoted from working as a front-line social worker to a therapist after graduating with her MSW at 55! Now, she’s honing her private practice and slowly building it up. Join us for our conversation today, and more of Nancy’s great advice for Canadian private therapists.
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MEET NANCY
Nancy graduated with her MSW at 55 and considers herself a lifelong student. Now living in St. John’s, NL, where she grew up, she has spent most of her career as a front-line social worker in Canada’s north. It’s her eclectic work history and life experiences that have led her to work with trauma, and her practice turns 10 next year.
Learn more about Nancy on her private practice website, Psychology Today, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles.
In This Episode
- Deciding to go back to school
- Going right into private practice
- Building the practice as a retirement plan
- Using Jane App
Deciding to go back to school
At first, Nancy worked in Ontario and, after many years as a front-line social worker, decided to go back to school for her Master’s degree. It was her retirement plan and a way to dive deeper into her passion for helping people through therapy.
‘I worked full-time, looked after [my team of] dogs … went back to school, and then started my private practice very part-time … and then I moved back home six years ago to St. John’s, where I’m from … and started working for another private practice [before] I decided to jump in and start my own.’ – Nancy Galway
Now, Nancy is a full-time private practice owner and therapist. Her practice is registered in Ontario and Newfoundland.
‘I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years!’ – Nancy Galway
Going right into private practice
After graduating with her Master’s in Social Work, Nancy dove straight into private practice. However, Nancy explains that if you told her 20 years ago she would work as a therapist in a private practice, she wouldn’t have believed you. But now, it’s something she loves doing.
‘Private practice is very meaningful, [and I get] a lot of validation, and as a career, I see first-hand people changing, and when you’re doing front-line work and jobs like parole … All those horrible things, you really start to think twice about, “Is this the job I want to have?” … Then the seed was planted that I can pivot, and I can go back to school and do therapy, and actually have people want to come and see me!’ – Nancy Galway
In private practice, this is Nancy’s call for every helper out there: you don’t have to stay in a career or job that doesn’t serve you and your own mental health.
‘[We] don’t have to stay in a career or a job that doesn’t serve us … As a therapist … to do the work and be in this chair, you have to do your own work … And create that safe space for the other person where you can handle anything that’s coming at you because you’ve worked through your own issues and struggles.’ – Nancy Galway
Building the practice as a retirement plan
Since Nancy was dedicated to getting her private practice up and running, she worked with a coach and practice mentor.
‘I said, “If I do this right, this could work.” So I did some coaching and implemented the things that I learned.’ – Nancy Galway
Within a year, Nancy has two practitioners and an art therapy student.
‘[This is] part of the retirement plan. I’d love to sell the business one day, so the idea is to build it up. I would continue working, but for somebody else, and then I could eventually do less, less, and less, and then ride off into the sunset and do other things!’ – Nancy Galway
Using Jane App
Nancy has been using Jane App for years.
‘Now, I use [Jane App] for everything: groups, payments, booking notes, everything … and it has saved me hours and hours of work.’ – Nancy Galway
The team taught Nancy how to use her Jane App account effectively, as well as streamlined and simplified her account to be exactly what she needed it to be for her private practice.
If you want to try Jane App yourself, click here and use the promo code FEARLESS2MO to get your first two months for free!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Eleanor McAlpine: How Following Your Values Can Shape Your Career | EP 206
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 FEARLESS2MO for two months free)
Get started with Hushmail here and get one month for free!
Learn more about Nancy on her private practice website, Psychology Today, Instagram, and LinkedIn profiles
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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/.
