Phew.

Ok.

Here comes what I've been sitting on for the past few months.

Deep breaths.

I'm starting a private practice. I started it back in January with the piddliest little caseload that you've ever seen and it's been stuck in that spot because of the group practice I'm in. I've made the decision that I'm going into it full time as of June 1. I'm also taking on 3 interns, and will be both operating a private practice and a supervision/training hub. I am so excited about it that I could literally pee my pants.

It's exactly, and I mean exactly what I want to do with my time as a professional. This business I'm creating, this is what I want to do to help my clients and make the field continue to be better.

The tides started turning for me a few months ago. I was sitting and thinking about my clients and the idea of this private practice, and I said to myself, "wouldn't it be neat for my practice to be a training ground for interns and other professionals." I didn't dare put it out into the Universe, but that's what my gut was telling me that I actually wanted. I love teaching. I love training. I love supervising and watching growth happen before my very eyes. I also love being a counselor, so that would have to be part of it too. The seedlings that had planted themselves in my brain were starting to grow.

Then I had the surgery, and I had lots of time to sit and think about just that. One of my friends made a joke a few months ago about being my assistant, but it stuck with me. Like, really stuck. So, I talked to him. He's one of the most sarcastic, hilarious, earnest, and hungry for knowledge people I know, and he wants to do good. He's got the gene. (I'm also pretty sure that he's 1000 times more diligent and smart than I am, so I'm pretty super excited about that because he's given me a fresh perspective on a few things lately that have been super helpful.) We're cut from the same cloth, is what I'm saying. Then another colleague approached me and said that she wanted to get into private practice, so she came over and we talked about it. Then I was approached by two of my students who were having trouble at their practicum sites asking if I knew anyone who would be willing to take on interns because they were looking to change sites. All of this happened over the span of two weeks. It was literally one of the most bonkers ways of the stars aligning that has ever happened to me, ever.

So, now I scout for an office. I am super excited and terrified and holy shit this is real now because I gave my notice today and this really has to work now. The next few weeks are going to be stormy and hard, for sure. But, the thing is that I feel equipped fully to deal with it as it comes. I just need to ride it out and know that on the other side is something so exciting that I can barely contain myself even thinking about it.

Also, I'm starting to become this unbelievably, unabashedly happy person. The tides are turning in such amazing ways that I can barely contain my joy. Look out, world.