DEANNA DeSANTIS: BEING A NURSE, PSYCHOTHERAPIST, AND EQUESTRIAN COUNSELLOR | EP 146
My guest today, Deanna, has followed her passions to a place where she now runs a Canadian private practice, working with horses and their riders while still being a nurse. She has combined her expertise and personal experience so that she can work and make a difference in the lives that she is most drawn to.
In today’s episode, Deanna and I discuss her entry into psychotherapy, how she manages to be a nurse while running her practice, and how she has integrated her love for horses and the life of being a rider, including its challenges, into her practice as her professional niche.
Are you looking to build your private practice website hassle-free? WordPress has you covered. For just $33 CAD per month (plus tax), get everything you need: a free domain for a year, premium themes, unlimited pages, plugins, website security, real-time backups and performance boosters for your website. All built on an open sourced content management system.
And if you need a hand crafting your site, WordPress’ website design services start at $675 CAD (plus tax). Simply choose a plan, template, and submit your content—or let the WordPress AI do the work. In just four business days, Happiness Engineers will deliver a 5-page website tailored to your private practice and services.
To learn more you can go to fearlesspractice.ca/website
MEET DEANNA
Deanna is both a Registered Nurse and Psychotherapist! At Evolution Counselling, her mission is clear: to assist individuals in overcoming day-to-day concerns and to empower athletes, especially equestrians, to better understand and manage their mental health. Whether they are striving to excel in their sport or simply seeking support in navigating life’s challenges, she is there to provide a safe space and compassionate guidance every step of the way.
Learn more about Deanna on her website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles.
In This Episode
- Deanna’s career in therapy
- The desire to open a practice
- An equestrian therapist
- Deanna’s advice to listeners
Deanna’s career in therapy
Deanna completed her nursing degree right after completing high school. She had her sights set on being an ICU nurse. Once she graduated, Deanna had a mental health position as a nurse when she worked with cancer patients in Hamilton.
‘I was working with cancer patients and I found that they wanted to talk. There were a lot of patients that were, unfortunately, closer to the end of their [lives], and they wanted to talk … I was thinking, “I like talking to people, they like talking to me, this can be my career!” So I ended up leaving the cancer floor and doing mental health full time as a nurse, and then completed my Masters in Counselling Psychology.’ – Deanna DeSantis
While Deanna was completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology, she switched between working full-time and part-time as a nurse to support what she needed to do to complete her degree.
She hopes to transition to full-time therapy one day soon, and to grow her Canadian practice into a group private practice.
‘I don’t think I will ever leave nursing … but I definitely would like to transition into doing full-time [therapy].’ – Deanna DeSantis
The desire to open a practice
Deanna wanted to open her own private practice rather than work as a therapist in a hospital setting because she wanted to be her own boss.
The flexibility of running her personal and working schedule, and the ability to be in charge of her day, was something that she wanted to align her professional career with.
‘This is my way of being my own boss and having flexibility because I do enjoy being a nurse and helping patients through some of the roughest times of their [lives]. I don’t think I’d ever want to lose that … And I can pull my psychotherapy hat into my nursing pretty regularly as well, so I get the best of both worlds while also getting to decide my schedule.’ – Deanna DeSantis
An equestrian therapist
Deanna has the skills and understanding to be a great equestrian therapist.
She had personal experience as a competitive horse rider, and so knew first-hand what the challenges were that many riders faced, both inside and outside of competitions. The stress, the fatigue, and putting themselves last, were all aspects that she had experienced and wanted to help other riders with.
Deanna wanted to encourage riders to also take time and care for themselves, and not to give absolutely all of their attention to their horses so that they can continue to compete and be well overall.
‘I think one of my biggest successes [has been] the long-term clients that I have, and just [to see] the progress that they’ve made … Just knowing that I am that person who they can reach out to [is amazing].’ – Deanna DeSantis
Deanna’s advice to listeners
Make connections! Talk with people, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to reach out to someone that you look up to. There is a lot of insight available to you when you place yourself in the right circles with the right people.
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 145: Lauren Mallon: Why Niching is a Practice-Boosting Superpower | EP 145
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 Lauren on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles.
Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google 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/.
