Clinicians Creating Impact

As clinicians, we face many challenges in our day-to-day work that can lead to frustration, whether it's issues with the system, work conditions, compensation, or workload. Even at the most amazing job, these challenges can arise. By having a plan in place to handle these frustrations, you can ensure that any decisions you make about your career are in your best long-term interest.   I walk you th...

In this episode, I share insights on upholding boundaries from a recent professional development training we held here at Abilities led by Kerry Neilson, a seasoned veteran in the helping professions. With 46 years of experience, including 22 years as a high school counselor, Kerry brings a wealth of wisdom on the topic of maintaining professional boundaries.   I dive into some practical tips for...

In today's episode, I sit down with Kathy Cervo to discuss the importance of customer service skills in clinical practice. Kathy has a unique role where she helps clinicians balance their own experience with the client experience, building successful caseloads and schedules. Her insights from this vantage point are invaluable.   We explore the common miscommunications and mismatched expectations t...

How do you take over a client from another clinician and ensure a smooth clinical transition? This is a question I received recently, and it's an important topic to explore. It can feel challenging to step into an established therapeutic relationship and maintain the same level of care, but as clinicians, we want to provide the best possible service to our clients, even during times of change.    ...

Leeza Pertsev joins us at the end of her first year as a new grad clinician and her reflections will be super useful for anyone out there looking to land their first clinical job, for clinicians moving roles, and for newer clinicians who want to know what kind of experience their peers are having.   Tune in this week to discover Leeza's tips for new grads navigating the early days of their clinica...

In this episode, I sit down with one of our amazing clinicians here at Abilities, Leeza Pertsev, to discuss her experiences navigating the "messy middle" of her first year in practice. If you're currently in a phase of transition in your own career, this is the perfect episode to listen to as Leeza reminds you it's okay to not have all the answers and that embracing lifelong learning is key to suc...

New grads everywhere are looking for their first clinical roles. That's why, this week, I'm reintroducing you to one of our own amazing clinicians here at Abilities: Leeza Pertsev. At the time of recording, Leeza was navigating her first year as a newly graduated therapist, and she shares a wealth of valuable lessons for newly qualified clinicians searching for their first job, or even for experie...

As clinicians, we're often so focused on making goals achievable that we forget the importance of first letting our clients dream big. Asking the right open-ended questions can reveal surprising insights into what they truly desire, even if it seems improbable at first. When we understand our clients' deepest aspirations, we can tailor our approach to be much more client-centered and engaging.   D...

By taking the time to deeply imagine your perfect ordinary workday, you gain valuable insights into what truly matters to you. This goes beyond surface-level goals like compensation or specific skills. What I share today is about crafting a day-to-day experience that lights you up and maximizes your impact as a clinician.   I walk you through the step-by-step process for creating your ideal workda...

Do you dread looking at your to-do list each day? You're definitely not alone. A difficult to-do list is a common source of stress for clinicians everywhere. But there is one powerful tool called the 3 Bs that has transformed my own to-do list, ultimately making it easier to handle.    If you're a busy clinician who wants to magnify your impact without burning out, this episode is a must-listen. Y...

As clinicians, a big part of our work involves collaborating with others on a team. But what do you do when one of those team members isn't meeting your expectations or communicating in a way that works for you? Listen in for my perspective on how to approach this situation in an empowering way that starts with supporting yourself first.   Learn three powerful questions to ask yourself when dealin...

Labels of any kind have limitations. However, there's a massive benefit to understanding how your brain naturally works and using that knowledge to set yourself up for success. So if you're ready to start getting the most out of your clinical work by learning to get the best out of your brain, this episode on conative styles is for you.   Tune in this week to discover how to start working with you...

If you're anything like me, getting negative feedback from a client about your performance as a clinician is truly crushing. However, when you use the techniques I share in today's episode, you are able to look at negative client feedback through a new, less painful lens.   Discover a new way to deal with negative feedback in your work as a clinician. I discuss how to handle the thoughts and emoti...

Following on from last week's conversation about deciding what you're really worth as a clinician and discussing the challenges of getting paid what you're worth, we're taking things a step further in this episode. If you want some practical tips and strategies to help you get paid what you're worth, this episode is for you.   Tune in this week to put everything together and discover how to get pa...

There was a time when conversations about money and compensation made me super uncomfortable. However, now that I'm a clinic owner, I love having conversations with interviewees about what they think they're worth and how they want to be compensated. If conversations about money make you cringe a little, this episode is exactly what you need.   Discover how to stop underearning and get paid what y...

Today, I'm offering you a powerful insight into a conversation I had just this week with some of the clinicians I work with. I have a strategy that works for me in relating better with colleagues, even when it feels difficult, and I'm including some practical tips on how you can put all of this into practice.   Discover everything you need to know about improving relations with colleagues in your...

There are forces we don't control that bring change impacting us in our work lives, like a change in government policy, employer policy, or personnel in the workplace. Whatever changes you're dealing with in your work as a clinician, this episode is here to help you manage change, particularly when it's unexpected. If you want to up-level your tolerance for change in your work, tune in this week f...

My guest in this episode is Alex Thompson, the executive director and founder of Power For All. She has a background in education, outdoor recreation, adventure therapy, and occupational therapy. She has specialized in working from a holistic lens with children, youth, and families in the last 15 years offering nature-based occupational therapy.     Tune in this week to discover how Alex Thompson...

If you're a speech language pathologist, an occupational therapist, or a physical therapist, you've likely worked with rehabilitation assistants before. But have you made the best use of their help? And how can you utilize assistants more effectively in your work as a clinician? If you want to become more competent and confident in using assistants in your clinical work, this episode is for you. ...

Do you struggle with giving negative feedback or receiving it yourself? When you need to deliver feedback to a colleague, a patient, or anyone else you encounter regularly, it's normal to feel very uncomfortable. As clinicians, we're naturally relationship-focused. In many ways, this is a superpower. However, being relationship-focused can be a liability, especially when it comes to giving and rec...

A topic that always comes up in my chats with clinicians is work-life balance. It's such a personal concept, meaning different things to different people, and that's what we're diving into today.   Explore how to achieve a work-life balance that's right for you. Learn about treating it like a science project, adjusting as circumstances change, and understanding how our work challenges often mirror...

Neurodiversity is an important topic. As a society, we're becoming increasingly more aware of the differences in how we think and interact as individuals. As clinicians especially, we're trained to recognize neurodiversity when others may not see it, and we have a wonderful opportunity to help our neurodivergent colleagues show up exactly as they are.   Discover some important considerations to ma...

Thinking about your clients or your workload while you're away from work isn't necessarily a problem. However, when it crosses the line into overthinking and you need a little help taking your mind away from work so you can get the rest and relaxation you really need, this episode is for you.   Tune in this week to discover a quick tip to disconnect from work. Learn exactly how disconnecting while...

I'm all about adding more fun into my life, as I'm sure you are too. But how do you add more fun into your days at work as a clinician? Not everybody sees having fun at work as important, but for me, having at least some fun at work is a necessity.   Discover some concepts and practical strategies that will help you add more fun to your work days. I share how you can create the feeling of fun with...

Do you have any drama at work? A lot of people will probably say yes to this because a little drama can feel like a normal part of being in a workplace. But while it is common, it doesn't need to feel normal. If it feels like you have some kind of drama to navigate on any given day in your work as a clinician, this episode is for you.   Tune in this week to free yourself from drama in your work as...