Alli Clayton, LCSW-C.
1. What's your practice focus and what kind of clients knock on your door ?
I see teens who are having a hard time in school or with their families, are feeling depressed or anxious, and may be engaging in unhealthy coping skills to manage. In addition, I also work with folks who want to heal from their past traumatic experiences, whether it happened many years ago or only recently. I take a “sandwich approach,” teaching each person healthy coping skills to make each day easier, while also gently processing the traumas from their core so that each person finds peace.
2. Tell us about yourself.
After my mother’s death when I was in middle school, I wanted to help others going through hardship. I found social work as a way to connect with others and help our society to heal. I have especially loved working with the Spanish-speaking community; through that work, I discovered my passion for working with trauma. I realized that trauma impacts every aspect of our beings. By compassionately integrating holistic trauma treatments, I see people start to trust, live, and thrive again.
3. Tell us the story of a patient who you are most proud of helping.
Some of my favorite patients are the ones who have been in therapy before, maybe have tried several therapists, but still feel stuck. It makes me even more proud when they start to make progress. I have been working with one such client who had been struggling with her self-confidence, anxiety, friendships, and healing from a deep traumatic wound. With IFS, I have seen her come out of her shell, start the process of forgiveness she once thought impossible, and believe in herself once again.
4. What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a practitioner in private practice?
Overall, I love being in private practice. I love the flexibility of making my own hours and getting to be my own boss. However, the hardest thing has been getting my name out so that clients who are a good fit can find me for services. I had no knowledge of marketing beforehand. It took longer than expected to grow my caseload and there are still some slow periods. I am learning and growing and have been stable, but still have room for growth.
5. What are the top 3 tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a private practice today?\
The top 3 tips I'd give.
- Make the jump – it is worth it!
- Find a community of like-minded practitioners to help support you, as it can get lonely doing this by yourself.
- Don’t forget to learn the business side of it. Marketing, accounting, website development – it was all new to me and has been a fun challenge to learn, but it takes time. Also, it’s okay to ask for help with this!