DR. STACEY HATCH: RESEARCH, PRIVATE PRACTICE TIPS, AND SEEING CLIENTS AT HOME | EP 137
Life can take us in many different directions, and what helps is how we can make use of the knowledge that we acquire when exploring these routes.
For today’s guest, Dr. Stacey Hatch followed her passion for psychology and working with people all the way from her near two-decade work experience in television to now running her own successful Canadian private practice!
In this podcast episode, we talk about her journey into counselling, how she managed to complete her studies while teaching and working, and advice on seeing clients directly out of your home. Listen along for tips!
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MEET STACEY
Stacey is a clinician-educator-researcher. She is a registered psychotherapist and worked in primary mental healthcare at the Prince Edward Family Health Team for ten years, where she saw patients across the lifespan. She also served as the mental health lead and coordinator of the Mint Memory Clinic for seven years. She has a private practice in Prince Edward County where she sees clients in person and virtually. She provides psychotherapy within a trauma-informed approach in inclusive and equitable spaces. Her practice is built on the foundation of compassionate support to create a therapeutic alliance that will encourage exploration and growth. Dr. Hatch also holds adjunct professor positions at Athabasca University and Yorkville University and is a post-doctoral fellow at the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. She recently helped in the development of clinical guidelines for the management of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia.
Learn more about Stacey on her website and Psychology Today profile.
In This Episode
- Stacey’s career
- Pursuing a private practice while researching and teaching
- Balancing work commitments
- Offering therapy from your home
- Marketing tips
- Dr. Hatch’s private practice advice
Stacey’s career
Stacey’s successful therapy career that she’s thriving in now started many years ago as a job in television!
‘I worked for about 15 years or so in television, and all of the work I did … as I reflect on it from this vantage point was everything about human behaviour, psychology, why do we do the things that we do … I was always fascinated with that.’ – Dr. Hatch
Dr. Hatch’s journey to her private practice today has been a roundabout route, but she took many of her lifelong inspirations and interests forward and brought her experience together to now do what she is passionate about.
After her years working in television, Stacey began doing volunteer work in her local hospice, and that’s when the desire to work in therapy really clicked into place for her.
‘I loved the work and the people I was surrounded by, both the clients and the healthcare workers … And I was later asked to join the board and we developed the first residential hospice in this area, so we now have a three-bed hospice. That whole experience was gratifying, just incredible!’ – Dr. Hatch
From launching the hospice with the board, Stacey started taking psychology classes and completed her Master’s Degree in Counselling Psychology. Afterward, Dr. Hatch spent time working in a primary care clinic, and it’s an experience that she recommends to every therapist and counsellor.
Pursuing a private practice while researching and teaching
‘Some of this [path that I took] was quite intentional. I do have a couple of things on the go at a time and I do notice that the research I would read or engage in really helped my practice … And my practice helped to inform what I was interested in.’ – Dr. Hatch
Even though some things ended up coming together serendipitously, many of the threads that wove Dr. Stacey Hatch’s career up until now did support one another and were built into her career together.
As she explains, at times her research supported her Canadian private practice and at other times her practice supported her research.
Balancing work commitments
‘It’s taken me a couple of years to get my feet under me again to allow myself to be more playful again, and allow myself to consider how my life could possibly look in terms of work/ life balance, and that has allowed me to be more intentional about wanting to expand my private practice.’ – Dr. Hatch
Slowly but surely, Dr. Hatch is finding her work/ life balance.
It may have taken some time, but she is discovering that the more she puts in systems and helpful routines or mindsets, the more that she can do without becoming overly stressed or pressured.
Stacey also offers virtual sessions, and she even takes clients for sessions in a home office room.
Offering therapy from your home
Some of Dr. Hatch’s serious (and unserious) practicality tips are;
- Your bathroom has to be spotless!
- Keep everything clean of dust
- Keep areas of your home clean that clients would have to walk through
- Arrange with any housemates or family members to be out of the house for the appointment
‘I was worried that [having sessions in the home would bring] heaviness, but actually it feels the opposite. It feels light, and like there’s beautiful healing that’s happening here and collaboration … So that does feel really nice.’ – Dr. Hatch
Marketing tips
Some of Dr. Hatch’s most used marketing tools are;
- A website that she loves and that showcases her Canadian private practice well
- Uploading up-to-date blogs for new potential clients to read over
- Connecting her website with her consultation platform to allow clients to book an initial consultation immediately
- Maintains a Psychology Today profile and updates it regularly
Dr. Hatch’s private practice advice
Find out when you feel the brightest and work the best! Pace yourself, and work in the periods throughout the day when you are excited and open to working with them, rather than forcing yourself to work in periods when you struggle to do any work at all.
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
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 Stacey on her website and Psychology Today profile
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/.
