KATIE LUTES: SCHOOL THERAPIST WITH A WEEKEND PRIVATE PRACTICE | EP 156
Katie has been working full-time in two different schools with students as a counsellor, family and play therapist as well as has a part-time private practice on Saturdays. When she is not doing virtual sessions with her clients, she sees them outside in nature with her dog.
Since she has been working full-time in schools for the last 10 years, Katie is now starting to truly give her private practice the attention and energy it needs for her to develop it more fully. One day she hopes to work solely in her practice full-time, hire a team to work alongside her, and specialize in play therapy.
Join us for our conversation today, where we talk about her journey, struggles, and wins throughout this time!
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MEET KATIE
Katie Lutes is a Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC) with experience in education since 2003 and counselling since 2011. She specializes in working with children and adolescents aged 5-19, utilizing modalities like Solution Focused Therapy, CBT, Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Play Therapy. Katie’s part-time private practice offers individual, group, and family counselling sessions, both in nature and online. She is passionate about incorporating animals into the healing process Her practice is based in Victoria, British Columbia.
Learn more about Katie on her website, Instagram account, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn profile.
In This Episode
- Katie’s experience with building a private practice
- Seeing clients
- Promoting nature therapy
- Overcoming private practice struggles
- Katie’s hope for the future
Katie’s experience with building a private practice
Katie started her private practice in 2015, but only seriously started giving it the attention it needs to grow from 2022 onwards.
‘Right now is probably the most serious I have ever been about growing my practice!’ – Katie Lutes
Katie has been working in the school system for 10 years now, which is why she has decided to move from working in the school system to working more intentionally with her own clients in her practice. She explains that she wants to stay with clients for longer – to see them through their healing journeys for a longer time than she can with students in schools.
‘I’d like to expand so that I do a bit of both, and then I’ll see where that goes … I think down the road [I would do private practice full-time]. Right now I’d like to do half-and-half ideally.’ – Katie Lutes
Seeing clients
While still working with students in one school full-time, Katie is seeing clients in her practice too. She usually takes one to two clients at a time.
Due to still working full-time, she sees her clients either on Saturdays or sometimes during weekday evenings when her schedule can fit them in.
‘I do have an office but I do prefer to see clients in nature with the dog. With online, I can use my office.’ – Katie Lutes
At the moment, Katie is working on building up her virtual client base.
Promoting nature therapy
Katie shares a lot about her nature and animal therapy modalities through her Instagram profile. She’s used Facebook and Instagram paid ads through Meta.
Additionally, she has begun networking and connecting with doctors, pediatricians, and children-centered spaces to connect with kids and their families for therapy.
Overcoming private practice struggles
One of Katie’s main issues has been broadening her financial bandwidth so that she can put more money into building up her private practice.
She built her website herself and set up her Psychology Today profile from listening to this podcast but finding the motivation and the financial success to add the rest of the pieces is taking more time than Katie realized.
‘The money mindset is so important … My mindset is pretty good … But believing in yourself and knowing that it can happen and that the return on investment will happen, I think that’s something I have to remember when I’m getting serious about my private practice.’ – Katie Lutes
Katie’s hope for the future
Katie wants to be a full-time play therapist! And that is what she is working toward each year. She wants to work half-time, hire some other therapists into her practice with different modalities, and have everyone functioning under a holistic approach to working with their clients.
Connect With Me
Resources Mentioned and Useful Links:
Ep 155: Amy Eriksson: Establishing a Successful Group Private Practice in Canada | EP 155
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)
Get some help and freebies on your website with WordPress!
Learn more about Katie on her website, Instagram account, Psychology Today, and LinkedIn 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/.
