6. All the “Extra Work” and Self-Care Makes No Money (ft. Kelsea Puckett, LPC, LSOTP)

This week Karen learned that being a private practice counselor means doing all her own math and accounting work - which sucks. Karen shares how much she ends up procrastinating on the important financial tracking tasks inherent in running one’s own business and how many little things require basic math skills, which she hated having to learn in grade school. Today we talked to Kelsea Puckett. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor and a Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Provider in Texas. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Texas A&M University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lamar University. She currently works in two settings as a counselor: at a private group practice and a residential treatment facility. Her clinical focus in each of these settings is very different. In the private group practice she sees children, adults, and couples, with a focus on women with fertility issues and then at the residential treatment facility she works with adolescent boys with problematic sexual behaviors. In our conversation with Kelsea we explore the differences between working in inpatient and outpatient settings with clients, how to not take things home, and setting professional boundaries. We also talk a lot about all the additional, unpaid and unseen aspects of being a counselor no matter the clinical setting, from administrative tasks, setting rates, connecting with local resources, networking, and participating in additional training, to the basic demands of self-care and managing one’s own personal life in order to even be capable of providing competent, therapeutic care.Kelsea shares her experiences feeling completly unprepared for all the extra work outside of just doing the therapeutic work of counseling that would be demanded of her in this field. Partly because of her experiences, Kelsea is a huge advocate for counselors being connected with each other and with other mental health resources so she also shares her perspective on the importance of networking, case conferences, and asking questions in our profession.Resources mentioned: She’s Come Undone by Wally LambLocal Mental Health and Behavioral Health Authorities: https://www.hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use/mental-health-substance-use-resources/find-your-local-mental-health-or-behavioral-health-authority Thank you so, so much for listening! To support the show and receive access to regular bonus episodes, check out the Therapy Tea Patreon community https://www.patreon.com/TherapyTeaPodcast.Follow us on social media:  Facebook: Therapy Tea Podcast https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61552953196482  Instagram: @therapyteapod https://www.instagram.com/therapyteapod/ Thoughts? Questions? Email us at [email protected] (And, if you’re reaching out to recommend a guest, please write “Guest Suggestions” in the subject line.)Disclaimer: All statements made on this podcast by hosts and guests are their individual personal perspectives only and are not necessarily shared by anyone else. The hosts and guests on this podcast are not speaking on behalf of all mental health professionals or the profession as a whole. This podcast is not therapy and does not establish a professional, therapeutic counseling relationship.