FLORA GERLAI: HIRING THE RIGHT FIT FOR YOUR PRACTICE | EP 142
Many therapists may struggle with finding and hiring the best-fit staff for their private practice, and that may include hiring interns and students who want to complete their practicums. So, how do you go about finding them?
My guest Flora in today’s episode interviewed more than 30 different candidates for a position at her practice! There’s some trial and error, but once you know more about what you are looking for and what the vision is that you have for your practice, it can help to make things easier.
Join us and listen in on our conversation today to learn more!
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MEET FLORA
Flora Gerlai is an RP and founder of Flora Psychotherapy. She provides a safe space for clients to navigate life’s challenges using an active, empathetic, and detailed approach. Flora believes all behaviors reflect underlying needs and tailors her integrative techniques to each client, drawing on various therapeutic models like CBT, Narrative Therapy, and Mindfulness. She’s also a Certified Mental Health and Nutrition Clinical Specialist, passionate about the connection between food, mood, and mental well-being.
Learn more about Flora on her website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles.
In This Episode
- How Flora became a psychotherapist
- Launching a private practice
- Adding staff and clients to the practice
- Finding a good practicum fit for your practice
- Flora’s advice for listeners
How Flora became a psychotherapist
‘I’ve always been interested in psychology and working with people. I dabbled a little bit in different sub-fields, so my earliest work experience was with the foster care network … And that’s where I noticed a fairly large gap in the services that were being provided.’ – Flora Gerlai
Flora noticed that in the mental health services field, especially when it came to psychotherapy, there can be long wait lists and a large number of clients looking for a way to access care.
This realization and observation sparked Flora’s transition into psychotherapy specifically. Once she finished her Masters degree, Flora remained working in the foster care system for a while before transferring to a group private practice.
After working there for a while and trying out this new work experience, Flora opened her own virtual private practice.
‘For me … I valued a lot of the experiences I had gained from the group private practice … I was a “baby therapist” and didn’t know a lot of the backend things, the behind-the-scenes pieces that come with owning and operating a private practice … At that point, I was on my own, so I liked the networking and the family dynamics that come into play when you’re working with other people.’ – Flora Gerlai
Launching a private practice
Currently, Flora is in her second year of running her own virtual Canadian private practice, while she continues working part-time at another in-person clinic.
‘The group private practice was closer to Oakville … so realistically the commute was not something I wanted to do often, but it just went hand-in-hand [with my personal transition].’ – Flora Gerlai
For Flora, opening up her own Canadian private practice was a large learning curve. There were many aspects of running a business that she had to learn from scratch, especially as the boss. However, through lots of trial and error and a growth mindset, she was able to pull through and learn what she needed to to keep her business running smoothly.
‘I do have a solid network of therapist friends, like other therapists in private practice, and we transitioned to our own practices around the same time so that was really helpful to have that support … We chat about different things that come up … So that’s been super supportive and helpful.’ – Flora Gerlai
Adding staff and clients to the practice
Finding clients ebbs and flows, but most of the time Flora finds new clients through either word-of-mouth, through existing clients, or her Facebook and Instagram ads. Once she felt steady enough running her private practice, she hired another therapist from outside Toronto to also see clients online.
Through Bosnar Health Flora sometimes gets a few client referrals, so with these channels, she is able to keep her roster full.
‘I do a little bit of marketing through my neighbourhood. So, [in] some of my favourite spots around town have my business cards and flyers displayed … But word-of-mouth is honestly the biggest way where I get most of my clients.’ – Flora Gerlai
Flora reminds herself that the busyness comes and goes. For many therapists this year, September has been uncharacteristically quiet, and this was the case for Flora as well. She reminds herself to stay in the present and keep going, even when it’s tough.
‘I’m really picky with the clinicians that I want to onboard! I’m really wanting to find a good fit, the fit I think is the most important for me.’ – Flora Gerlai
Finding a good practicum fit for your practice
Flora knew that she wanted to work with students. When it came to hiring, it has been a trial and error process that has taught her what to look out for; the good, the bad, and the potential. She tries to have a blend of questions that are both clinically significant and others more open and low-key, while in a professional setting.
‘I think I interviewed probably 30 or 40 students, yeah! … For about 30 to 45 minutes … I spread [these interviews] out … I was looking for one person, but I had some gaps in my schedule [to interview them].’ – Flora Gerlai
She’s still considering what her next step will be, and if she wants to be a clinical supervisor at this point in her career.
‘I love that with private practice you get to choose what you want to do and when you want to do it, and just because you’ve had a student doesn’t mean you always need to have a student, and there will be times in your life when you make your schedule slow and easy … and other parts of your life where you start to ramp it up and do more things! [I love] that you get that freedom and flexibility, [it’s] so worth the stress of private practice.’ – Julia Smith
Flora’s advice for listeners
Hone in on what your core values and beliefs are for your practice because they will help to inform your niche.
Take your time in figuring out your niche, and be okay with the nature of the field, and how much it can change and fluctuate.
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 141: Adding Direct Billing to Your Canadian Private Practice | EP 141
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Learn more about Flora on her website, Psychology Today, and Instagram profiles
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn
About Julia
Julia Smith, MEd, RCT, CCC is a registered Counselling Therapist who owns a group private practice in Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is also the owner of Fearless Practice Consulting and hosts the Fearless Practice podcast. Through the Fearless Practice podcast, she provides invaluable insights and practical advice on starting and growing a successful Canadian private practice. Julia’s wealth of knowledge also extends beyond the podcast, as she provides personalized one-on-one consulting to therapists who are feeling burnt out and overwhelmed with their solo or group private practices. With Julia’s expertise, therapists can confidently navigate the complexities of owning a private practice and find work life – balance.
Julia also has written articles for the Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy association. You can learn more at www.ccpa-accp.ca/blog/.
