Alexandra Mejia, MA in Forensic Mental Health Counseling.

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Alex Shink

Jul 03, 2023

Alexandra Mejia, MA in Forensic Mental Health Counseling.

1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?

My practice is very versatile and complex. I work mostly with trauma and personality disorders so I get clients from all over different walks of life. Most of my clients are emerging adults and adults, different cultural, gender, and sexuality backgrounds. I've often found myself working with artists and techies who are struggling with boundaries and emotional dysregulation due to underlying trauma or personality struggles they might not be aware of.

2. Tell us about yourself.

My journey to becoming a clinician started back in high school when I first becme curious about what drives peoples behavior and emotions. My own experience with trauma and living with others who struggled with personality disorders was what drove me to my current clinical focus though. I had to go through years of therapy to understand and heal myself and what I want to do most of all is to help others get through their own journeys.

3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.

A client I have been working with for about 3 years now, started with very little insight into their difficulties. They were not speaking with family members because of trauma and miscommunications and often pushing away friendships due to constant triggering. After our first year of working together, they were able to manage their emotions better, reconnected with family, developed a stable romatic relationship, and has a stable group of friends that they maintain effectively to this day.

4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?

There is just not enough time to do everything that I want with my practice. There are multiple trainings I want to take that are lengthy and take time from other important things like marketing myself, seeing clients and supervising my clinical residents. So I end up just doing little bits here and there throughout my week. I am just doing my best as everyone else, after all.

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:

JUST DO IT! Don't let fear stand in your way. Take one day next week and start filling up your private practice.
Hire a GOOD supervisor that is experienced in private practice and your clinical niche. They will be your biggest support and your guide.
Get in with 2 big insurances like Aetna and Optum to get clients right away, but don't bother with ones that won't pay you (you'll get the idea once you start contracting).