BLACKCY PLACIDASS: DEVELOPING A VALUE-BASED PRACTICE | EP 140
One of the great benefits of building a value-based practice is that it makes it easier for you to return to work each day, remembering why you do the work that you do. It also allows your clients to know exactly what you stand for, and how they can best connect with you and your mission.
For example, my guest today has built her private practice around the metaphor of an oak tree, and not only has it enabled her to build a beautiful website that showcases the essence of her practice, but the imagery lets her easily connect with her clients about the importance of staying rooted, learning about the seasons of life, and how to remain strong when the winds blow strong.
Join us for today’s podcast episode, where Blackcy and I discuss why we both came into the helper’s profession, how to curb burnout when managing workloads, and why incorporating our values into our practices is a good idea for anyone to consider!
Jane is an all-in-one health and wellness practice management platform designed to be helpful to you, no matter how or where you practice. Available online and on any device, Jane offers branded online booking, beautiful scheduling, insurance management, customizable charting, online intake forms, patient reminders, integrated payment processing, online appointments (telehealth) and more! Use the code FEARLESS at signup to receive your first month completely free!
MEET BLACKCY
Blackcy Placidass is a registered social worker and psychotherapist with 14 years of experience. She has served a multitude of populations across the GTA in Ontario. Currently, Blackcy is a care coordinator with Ontario Health atHome and has been running a part-time private practice for the past seven years. Her specialties include addictions, trauma, and grief and loss.
Learn more about Blackcy on her Psychology Today and Instagram pages, or her website.
In This Episode
- Why Blackcy decided to become a social worker
- Opening a private practice
- Avoiding burnout
- Developing a value’s based practice
- Blackcy’s advice to listeners
Why Blackcy decided to become a social worker
‘If I had to really think back, I’m going to say about the age of 5 I’ve been a helper. I would help with the teachers, I would help at home with my siblings, and as I got older, I became a helper with kindergarten in school and then I started to do a lot of volunteering.’ – Blackcy Placidass
For Blackcy, she always had volunteering and helping people as something at the back of her mind when she started thinking about going to university, since it had been a passion in her life for so long.
When she completed her undergraduate degree for Psychology, she discovered how competitive it is to be accepted into a Master’s degree and further studies for Clinical Psychology. Therefore, she decided to try a different route, and in 2010 she started studying addiction and completed her certificates.
‘I went and started working in communities and doing addiction work, case management, and I felt like, as I kept moving up the ladder, that it wasn’t fulfilling. I just felt like there was something that I was missing that I could be doing more [with].’ – Blackcy Placidass
With some soul-searching, Blackcy realized that she enjoyed speaking with clients more than the day-to-day paperwork, and so decided to complete her Master’s in Social Work to see where it would take her.
She made the transition to become a care-coordinator, and in this field she saw that this type of work had a lot more to do with the social worker skills that she felt she innately had, and could bring to the table.
‘[It] had to do with the social worker skills of being empathetic, listening, being grounded, and really having those hard conversations with patients in their homes, navigating family dynamics, and I’m like, “This is me. This is where I thrive!”’ – Blackcy Placidass
Opening a private practice
In 2017, Blackcy opened up her Canadian private practice. She learned early on about the importance of networking, and so has become proficient in it.
Blackcy made sure to connect with other therapists who were running private practices and asked them about their experience, and for any advice or tips.
‘They said, “Don’t be afraid to make cold calls. Just call other therapists and see if they have a waitlist, and [if] they want to put your name on the roster that they can refer other people to”. I’ve also gotten connected to some universities and colleges, and I’m on their roster for their students as well.’ – Blackcy Placidass
By working with universities, other therapists, and even medical practices, Blackcy is able to welcome in many new clients and keep her Canadian private practice full and well.
Avoiding burnout
Blackcy is working full-time while building up her private practice on the side, and managing both work loads can be challenging, as most private practitioners will know.
For her, Blackcy has been in communication with her husband to plan their homelife better a week in advance when she knows that the upcoming week is going to be full of clients. She also makes sure to end her sessions at the correct time to give herself enough breathing space in between client sessions.
‘I also get to pick when I slot in my clients … So if I know it’s going to be kind of heavy and a lot more is going to be required of me, then I’m not going to book four of those clients back-to-back … I space them out.’ – Blackcy Placidass
Developing a value’s based practice
‘I told my website designer [that] I want a section on my website that talks about values and references the oak tree.’ – Blackcy Placidass
Much of Blackcy’s private practice is built up from the metaphor of an oak tree, and the values that you can learn from it, such as remaining strong with deep roots, how the wind may blow you at different times, how there are seasons to life, and so forth.
Using this imagery allows you to express values in a way that connects you with your clients, and makes the work that you do more easily understood.
‘I feel like in order to be an authentic social worker, you have to have values, otherwise you’re doing an injustice to yourself and to your clients. And if you don’t adhere yourself to something that you don’t believe in, then what’s the purpose? ’ – Blackcy Placidass
Blackcy’s advice to listeners
If you are considering starting your own Canadian private practice, take the leap!
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 139: Darbey Carlson: Why Authenticity is a Secret Sauce to Marketing and More | EP 139
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 Blackcy on her Psychology Today and Instagram pages, or her website
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/.
