It is my delight to introduce you to Sandy Boone! Sandy entered the therapy field after previously working for 18 years in the medical field. Sandy currently owns Foothold Counseling and Sandy Boone Coaching & Consulting. Over the years, I have had the privilege of watching Sandy make several impactful shifts in her approach to her work including; moving towards a more sustainable schedule, expanding her clinical skills and navigating the transition from accepting insurance to being a private pay practice. Sandy has shared her story below highlighting the ways that she has leaned into discomfort in order to make big changes.
Here’s what Sandy has to say:
“Remember that the minute you take your first step into the life of your dreams, the first to
greet you there will be fear. Nod. Keep walking.” ~Brianna Wiest
I have this quote on the cork board by my desk-my “Cork Board of Inspiration.” I cannot tell you how many times I’ve looked at it during this entire process and what a comfort this quote has been for me during my evolution as a therapist.
I took the scenic route to becoming a therapist and entered the counseling field after almost
eighteen years in the medical field. Choosing the medical field was a practical decision and
during my stint in pharmaceutical research, I was told, “Your patients always get better…whether they receive drug or placebo.” This told me that relationship mattered, and it’s not lost on me that many of those patients had chronic disease and trauma. I was hearing the stories long before I was getting paid to do so.
Ongoing Learning + New Modalities
It wasn’t long before I discovered body-based modalities for the treatment of trauma. I binge-read the works of Bessel Van der Kolk and Peter Levine. I devoured everything that Dr. Leslie Korn produced. I knew the intricacies of the body and now I saw the fascinating mind/body
connection. Because the connection is so powerful and healing happens when we harness all parts of self, I became trained in Brainspotting and am in the process of becoming certified in Somatic Experiencing. I am also working on a Functional Medicine certificate.
Transitioning to Private Pay
Along this journey, I realized that I would never be paid enough by insurance companies to
compensate me for all the training that I have completed. I also knew that seeing the number of clients a week that I was seeing wasn’t sustainable. In addition to this, insurance companies didn’t appreciate (READ: want to pay for) the type of work I was doing. As therapists, we are encouraged to stay within the lines of traditional talk therapy models. While there is a shift happening, psychoeducation about how gut health affects mental health are not commonly provided.
In May 2023, I left Blue Cross Blue Shield’s panel. This was 90% of my caseload. Prior to coming off the panels, my caseload was so full that I couldn’t advertise for self-pay clients. I also didn’t have time to update my website so that it spoke to my ideal client. Most of my clients stayed with me but most also reduced frequency. I find that self-pay clients in my area generally will be seen once a week for three to four weeks and then they begin to extend the time between appointments to every other week. Marketing to self-pay is completely different skillset and one that I am still working to master. I learned quickly that I had to set myself apart from insurance-based therapists and that’s where niching into body-based models works well. There aren’t many therapists doing this kind of work and with the challenges in our medical system,
there appears to be a desire for it.
Strategies to Facilitate Change + Becoming Vibrant
I tend to get bogged down in research and become stuck, so Sarah encouraged me to “take the next ‘good enough’ step.” Working with Sarah helped keep me focused- I love all things continuing education and I can always find something to do to avoid the task I dread. Sarah also helped me to lean into my inner knowing to realize what my ideal was and how to show up as I authentically am. Leaning into the discomfort of leaving insurance panels and adding services outside of traditional talk therapy took more courage than I imagined. There has also been some backlash- things like “How are you not outside of your scope” and “What about access to services?”
It has not been easy, but it has been worth it. My clients deserve a vibrant therapist that does meaningful, sustaining work. After all, isn’t that what we encourage our clients to have?
Thank You + Reflection Questions
Thank you for sharing your experiences, Sandy! Feel free to leave a comment below if a part of Sandy’s story resonated with you.
What changes are you contemplating?
Are you ready to lean into the discomfort that may be required to make those changes a reality, too?