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Meet Dr. Brooke Sorger
Where do you practice and how long have you been in practice?
I practice in Verona, NJ and have now been in practice for 7 years.
www.thesorgergroup.com
Where did you go to graduate school and what specialty area was your degree in?
I went to Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. I have a clinical psychology degree and completed a fellowship in palliative care medicine, focusing on chronic and terminal illness, death, dying, and grief.
Describe what professional activities you engage in, and whether you have any specialty areas.
I primarily provide individual psychotherapy and consultation to adults ranging in age from young to old.
My specialty is in palliative care medicine. Palliative care involves aiding those who suffer from physically debilitating and potentially terminal illness, and their families, in a holistic way (considering all aspects of the person). This traditionally happens in an acute care facilitated through an interdisciplinary team approach.
I desired to offer such a service in the private sector, allowing for long-term relationship and care over the course of illness. Although I do not have an interdisciplinary team at my disposal, I am equipped to speak to medical professionals and communicate and/or advocate for patients and their needs.
Practically, this usually manifests itself through both individual meeting with ill patients and/or the families. The desires of each individual patient desires dictates the treatment. My theoretical approach is primarily psychodynamic, and if ill or grieving patients wish to explore what contributes to their views (that may complicate their physical suffering), we will enter the world of their objects and projections. Or if they desire support around medical decision-making and practical matters associated with their physical problem we can pursue those matters.
In the last year I have engaged in several activities to further aid this special population. I pursued additional training in the area of neurolinguistic programming and past life regression which adds an spiritual and esoteric bend to the more traditional approaches I described above. Working in the area of death has exposed me to certain phenomenon that inspired me to pursue these new avenues of healing. I also began studying to become a “lifecycle celebrant” in order to preside over funeral services.
And finally, with the help of Jeff Zimmerman at TPI, I expanded my sole proprietorship to a group practice and hired a clinician to work with me. This way I can expand my exposure to patients with serious physical as well as psychological trauma and have the support staff to share the responsibility of care (which can be demanding at times).
What are the most salient positive aspects of your work, and what is your favorite professional activity?
One of my first supervisors highlighted that it was my “hope for the therapeutic process” that propelled the intensity of my commitment to the work. I have always considered my career a calling rather than a job. And although at times challenging, exploration into the self is like air for my soul. I love being with my patients and knowing their vulnerabilities especially around aspects of death and significant trauma. It helps me to know myself and offers me tremendous meaning. I consider these relationships a true privilege and a gift.
What is the most creative or successful thing you've done to build a thriving practice?
My relationships have tended to dictate my success. I tend to nurture my practice through connecting to other professionals - both professionally and personally.
I did this through saying “yes” (in the beginning) regardless of fee and served many populations. This allowed me to build my relationships with the professionals serving many different aspects of the culture in my area. At my personal appointments, I spoke truly about my aspects of my professional life, and surprisingly many other doctors could relate to my personal challenges to be a professional in today’s world. Although not my intent, they always asked me for cards so they could refer. Getting to know the real “me” provided trust that I could take care of their patients well.
What is your least favorite part of being a professional and why? What (if any) are the negative aspects of your work?
I have learned through TPI that there are 3 aspects to being a business woman - finding the business, grinding the business, and minding the business. I have always been good at finding and grinding, but minding brings much challenge for me. I hate paperwork and insurance filing. I have to work hard to hire the right people to help me with these endeavors and to keep on top of it myself.
What advice would you have for somebody considering private practice as a career path?
I would say that if you are thinking about it you MUST do it. I do not believe that everyone has the personality to run a private practice, but if you are considering it as a path it is likely that you do have what it takes to run a business. Honor your intuition and don’t let anyone tell you private practice myths. As I learned at TPI, “private practice is alive and well!” We have all worked hard to gain our independence through earning a professional degree. As a result we have the ability to create our own realities. It has been worth the risk and the fear in the beginning to do so.
What do you like about being a TPI Member?
My time as a TPI member has been so productive. The support and guidance that Jeff has offered me has allowed me to take care of myself and my business well. The personal consultation is what I like most about being a TPI member.
Meet Dr. Alma Villegas-Schwalbenberg
Where do you practice and how long have you been in practice?
I have a thriving practice in the northeastern part of the Bronx. I started my private practice in 2009, but went full time in May, 2012.
Where did you go to graduate school and what specialty area was your degree in?
I graduated from Fordham University, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, with a Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology.
Can you please describe what professional activities you engage in and if you have any specialty areas? If you have any specialty areas can you describe what is involved in it?
My professional activities involve providing individual, group and family psychotherapy that is done in my office which I share with a psychiatrist. I get referrals from him and from nearby internal medicine doctors. I specialize in working with children and adolescents. Recently, I accepted a consultancy job with a hospital conducting psychological evaluations with children who are HIV positive.
I am also interested in psycho-spiritual approaches to healing and have given talks, (as my community service in the Bronx), on topics such as Secrets of Self-Esteem, Letting Go, Feeling Great…No Matter What.
I am also involved in some cross-cultural consultancy with Fordham University’s International Political Economy and Development Program, which allows me to accompany graduate students as their cross-culture guide in the Philippines and South Africa.
What are the most salient positive aspects of your work and what is your favorite professional activity?
The salient positive aspects of my work is being able to venture into new things, when and how I like it, as the need arises, and learning more about it and growing as a professional, in the process. My favorite professional activity is working with parents, and being an advocate for the children. I also like observing how my practice unfolds.
What is your least favorite part of being a professional and why? What (if any) are the negative aspects of your work?
The least favorite part of being a professional in this field is the realization that the need for help is so great, and that psychotherapy can be so labor-intensive! I try to pace myself, and do a lot of internal work and self-care. It can also feel isolating when I am by myself in my office.
What advice would you have for somebody considering private practice as a career path?
As for my advice, I have this poster in my office: “This is your world. Shape it or somebody else will.”
What do you like about being a TPI Member?
To be able to do this, I need a lot of hand-holding and it is my great fortune to have Steve, Jeff, Lauren and Pauline… the most generous, patient, accepting and inspiring gurus around….this is the best mentoring experience for me!
Meet Dr. Jennifer Rhodes
rapportrelationships.com and JBRpsychology.com
Where do you practice and how long have you been in practice?
I currently maintain a private practice in Menlo Park and San Francisco, CA. I’ve been in practice since July 2011. This practice is a part time practice as I am currently in the process of launching a dating and relationship consultation and coaching business.
Where did you go to graduate school and what specialty area was your degree in?
I graduated in 2008 from Yeshiva University. My degree was in School and Clinical Child Psychology. I completed my internship and first post-doctoral fellowship in Infant and Preschool Mental Health.
Can you please describe what professional activities you engage in and if you have any specialty areas? If you have any specialty areas can you describe what is involved in it?
My current practice focuses on child forensic psychology. I belong to a couple of forensic consultation groups and try to focus my work on children ages 0-5 that have been affected by divorce. I am a trained custody evaluator, mediator and parenting coordinator. Currently most of my forensic practice involves providing therapy for young children of divorce.
During the other half of my week, I am in the process of taking coaching classes and working with coaching clients who are having difficulties with dating. I enjoy the freedom that working with coaching clients offers and find that this is a good balance with my more intensive psychotherapy clients.
What are the most salient positive aspects of your work and what is your favorite professional activity?
I really enjoy the flexibility of my schedule and the ability to take clients who I believe I will work well with. Learning how to run a private practice has been an excellent source of learning and has helped me plan my new business accordingly.
What is the most creative or successful thing you've done to build a thriving practice?"
Coming up with the idea that I do not need to do traditional psychotherapy as a new psychologist. The freedom to think about all of the possibilities of how to use the tools of my profession has not only been a professional growth experience, it has helped in my personal development as well.
What is your least favorite part of being a professional and why? What (if any) are the negative aspects of your work?
Administrative work and billing. These are the mundane tasks of running a small business but the highly necessary ones to do on one’s own.
What advice would you have for somebody considering private practice as a career path?
I never thought that I would enter into private practice this early in my career. I am glad that I did. It was an entry into learning more about entrepreneurship and self-employment. I’ve learned that the overall flexibility of being in private practice outweighs the struggles to get started.
What do you like about being a TPI Member?
TPI was where I received the support and consultation needed to think about other possibilities for my practice. I enjoy hearing about what other professionals are doing in the field and the emphasis on skills needed to run a successful small business. Learning about how other psychologists and mental health practitioners have successfully leveraged their skill in their practices is always inspiring.
Meet our very first TPI member...
Vanessa Schaeffer, PsyD.
Where do you practice and how long have you been in practice?
I have been practicing in Gainesville, Georgia since 1999. Prior to that, I worked as an independent contractor in a Chicago-based practice.
Where did you go to graduate school and what specialty area was your degree in?
I received a Master’s Degree in Community and Family Counseling from Northeastern Illinois University (1990) and my Psy.D.at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology (1994). I interned at the Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas and completed a Fellowship at the Marshfield Clinic in Marshfield, Wisconsin.
Can you please describe what professional activities you engage in and if you have any specialty areas? If you have any specialty areas can you describe what is involved in it?
My primary professional activity is therapy. I do an occasional evaluation when I find the reason for the evaluation interesting. I work as a generalist, but a few of my interests involve grief therapy, working with individuals with terminal illnesses, and couples and marital therapy. My Fellowship involved a good deal of medical psychology as well as experience with behavioral disorders in children and adolescents.
What are the most salient positive aspects of your work and what is your favorite professional activity?
There are truly so many positive aspects of my work – there is great diversity involved in working with different people for different reasons. Doing therapy requires a resiliency that strengthens me both personally and professionally. Practicing the lost art of listening facilitates connections for people who often feel completely disconnected and this is quite rewarding. Therapy is my most favorite professional activity – to be successful you must come renewed each and every day and this is a mental and spiritual discipline that challenges me in so many ways.
What is the most creative or successful thing you've done to build a thriving practice?"
As insignificant as it may sound, I return my phone calls on the day that I receive them – I do not expect anyone to wonder if I will respond to their messages. This has proven to astound and impress people and has helped me stay constantly busy. When I began my practice I sent letters to every single primary care physician, pediatrician, school counselor and clergy member in the county where I currently practice. I was invited to speak to a meeting of all of the county’s school counselors and that was a great entry into the local system. Most of my referrals still come from these original sources, as well as from patients themselves. I also consult with other professionals that I respect and desire to emulate.
What is your least favorite part of being a professional and why? What (if any) are the negative aspects of your work?
Maintaining the “sustained empathic inquiry” requires a great deal of stamina and as such, it can be a difficult job at times. Dealing with individuals who are very disturbed or who are suffering from great distress can be stressful. Being a successful therapist requires an enormous amount of self-care and life balance. My least favorite part of being a therapist? PAPERWORK!
What advice would you have for somebody considering private practice as a career path?
Be well trained and find mentors who are willing to encourage you and share their wisdom. Have your own therapy so you really understand how profound the process can be. Seek balance.
What do you like about being a TPI Member?
I find TPI to be an incredible source of information and encouragement. I love the interviews with the authors. It is empowering to have colleagues want to help me succeed. It helps knowing that those colleagues understand the challenges involved in private practice. It was an honor to be the very first TPI member. I’m so grateful to Steve Walfish for being my mentor and beyond that, my dear friend.