Hello, for any fellow therapists out there who work with clients on Open Path, I have questions:
when I was first opening my PP a year ago, my schedule of course was fully available for clients, and I listed myself on the open path collective website (listing my services at a sliding scale rate of $40-$70 per the open path policy). This was great because I received many referrals and took most of them to fill my caseload quickly.
one year later, I have since joined a group practice and have also expanded privately in networking with insurances. Both offer me a much higher rate than OP clients. I am fully booked and OP has taken up about half of my schedule every week to date.
I really struggle in the comparison game…I see these huge pop idols like Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter (don’t know why these were the 1st 2 to pop into my head lol) and all these other Grammy winning artists and feel very discouraged that my music career is not like that. I am happy with my music, play in a band, play shows, have a record coming out, etc…but I just really struggle with comparing my success to the success of others, especially in music. Can anyone relate? Or have advice to get out of the rut? It definitely doesn’t help creativity or, tbh, productivity.
For context I have been with my therapist for 8 years and I adore her. She is no longer accepting any insurance and my out of network benefits are horrible. She charges $300 out of pocket. (She is well trained and I am in HCOL city). I could maybe afford that every once and a while but certainly not every week. She did offer me a sliding scale rate of a little less than that but still by no means affordable. I really want to continue with her. But am grieving... Do I have ANY other options?
I write at the mercy of burnout. For reference I work in an inpatient psych unit as an expressive arts therapist. To be honest, I've thought of transitioning into private practice like many of us do, or moving to a different role but I think I am so done that it's hard to even think about what I want to do next. If I'm really honest with myself, I just don't want to work. At all. I need time to cool off but I'm so scared to leave because of the stability that comes with the hospital system. Anyone relate or have gone through this?
Does anyone feel discouraged about age as an artist? I am by no means old (just turned 30 - I'm a female rock singer/songwriter and play in a band), but I feel like all these pop stars who are able to find success in music are like 20 years old. Sometimes it makes me want to stop making music all together knowing that in the industry age seems to be such a determining factor of someone's success. It makes me feel like I'm "past my prime" so why try? 😭
I can't do it anymore. Since working my full time job in healthcare my awakening has led me into just not valuing work in the same way anymore. Frankly, I don't want to work. I've tried thinking about doing something else but it's all the same in the system. I like making music, living in community, traveling and having fun. Is there a way out of this capitalist structure?