Negar Shekarabi, PsyD.

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Alex Shink

Jun 23, 2023

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

My mental health and wellbeing in the workplace consulting practice is dedicated to promoting and supporting the mental health and wellbeing of employees across various organizations. The clients who typically seek my services are organizations across different sectors, including academia, corporate settings, non-profit organizations, and government agencies.

2. Tell us about yourself.

My experience in higher education revealed the impact of work-related stress on wellbeing and job performance. Recognizing the need for specialized support, I'm motivated to create positive change and provide targeted services for individuals' mental health in the workplace.

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

I worked with the internal medicine department of a major hospital in the Orange County area during the COVID-19 pandemic. Faced with treatment COVID cases while simultaneously navigating important years of their medical training and growth and undoubtedly were experiencing a great deal of grief, burnout, and compassion fatigue. I worked with their department to create weekly process groups for the residents over a 6 month period coupled with scheduled 1:1 check-in for each resident.

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

Getting started and getting your footing can be challenging. My practice started as an individual psychotherapy practice but later evolved into a consulting business. It took me some time to find a way to market and "sell" what I was most passionate about that was unique to who I am a professional and person. At the beginning its tempting to look at what everyone else is doing and try to replicate that.

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:

You can start your practice in a focused, small way and then grow and expand over time. You don't have to have it all figured out to get started.
Find a group of folks doing similar work and create a support group where you can check-in with one another, motivate each other, and bounce idea off. Working for yourself can get lonely if you are not intentional.
Don't underestimate how much your time and work is worth.