Episode Details

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Dayna Sykes, LPC about making the transition into private practice from agency work. In particular, Dayna talks about being able to start doing the kind of work she is really passionate about and doing things her way. Dayna also talks about the big learning curve for her as she moved into private practice, especially since she is a solo practitioner. Gordon and Dayna also talk about getting on and OFF insurance panels and what that process has been like for Dayna. Dayna also talks about how she developed her niche and the transitions she made around that. They also talk about the importance of not being too isolated in your practice and drawing on the support and help of others.

Dayna Sykes, LPC-MHSP is the owner of Gordonsville Counseling & Play Therapy in Gordonsville, TN (cool name by the way!). Her website is daynasykeslpc.com. Dayna specializes in working with teens who are struggling with anxiety and depression.

Dayna received her B.S.W. in Social Work at Middle Tennessee State University in 2002 and was able to jump right into a career with an agency working as an In-home Family Counselor. This job equipped her for her specialty in teenage issues and parent training. She worked there for 7 years in several different positions to include In-home Family Counselor, Crisis Counselor, In-home and Transitional Living Supervisor, and Clinical Consultant and Trainer for the Middle Tennessee Region. While working for the agency, Dayna started attending Argosy University where she obtained her M.A. in Professional Counseling and worked to complete requirements for her License in Professional Counseling, which she completed in 2010.

Dayna says, "I'm a Private Practice Owner, Licensed Child and Teen Therapist- small-town practitioner with big dreams! Wife and mom of 2, baseball mom, farm life, spend my me time running and reading."

One of the main reasons people make the transition into private practice from being at an agency is out of a desire to be more independent and be their own boss. For Dayna, her decision to go into private practice was mainly motivated by her desire to have more time for her family. She made the transition to private practice after having her first child.

For others, the motivation to move into private practice from an agency setting is around being able to set your own niche and doing therapy your own way. Many times, agencies have a certain model or method of doing therapy that they expect their clinicians to follow. Not to mention the amount of time spent with clients and being able to give some extra attention to cases.

Other motivations for private practice come from being more financially independent. Earning potential for many agencies is based solely on getting raises and/or company wage standards. In private practice, especially for owners of the practice, you have more opportunity to increase your income and determine when and how you want to work.

Going into private practice, especially as a solo practitioner, requires learning a lot. There are so many processes and logistics to learn from the beginning. Hopefully, we don't have to learn too much from our mistakes, but they do help us learn nonetheless.

Dayna and Gordon talk about being able to draw on supports to help with the learning curve. Things like this podcast and others can provide so much needed information to help counselors and therapists in their private practice journeys.