I look forward to attending the NASW-Michigan Private Practice Workgroup every month. So, it is truly an honor to now be part of the leadership of this NASW-Michigan Workgroup as a Co-Chair! Given that I have been blessed (or cursed?) with a mind that is unable to stop seeing opportunities for expansion and improvement everywhere I look, I tend to automatically create tools that fill gaps. Because of this tendency, I am excited to help advance the impact of a gathering of social workers that has already been life-changing for many.

I have been attending the NASW-Michigan Private Practice Workgroup for nearly 10 years. I started attending the workgroup meetings as a private practice clinician when I was at a group private practice. I continue to attend consistently even as an owner of my own private practice because it represents what we as social workers are best at: community and advocacy.

Because private practice is inherently isolating, the power of the NASW-Michigan Private Practice Workgroup lies in the fact that it is a place for all interested in clinical social work, whether private practice specifically or not. Whether someone is a new social worker considering private practice for the first time or someone has been retired for years and can provide valuable experiential wisdom, all are welcome and all are frequent participants of this workgroup. Non-NASW members having access to this group allows it to truly be a diverse collection of voices. So, whether you are looking for mentoring and coaching or are a mentor and coach, the NASW-Michigan Private Practice Workgroup is a place for you!

More precisely, though, the NASW-Michigan Private Practice Workgroup is a member-led experience dedicated to collaborating with other life-minded social workers to brainstorm, share resources, receive consultation, and connect surrounding the strong emotions of being a professional in a field that is ever-changing and inherently challenging. The workgroup has personally served for me at times as a place to vent but also as a place to bring recent trends (e.g. insurance claim denials with Priority Health) to light so that the NASW at large can explore and intervene with advocacy for our profession. I have seen many times how items discussed in these workgroup meetings have climbed up the ladder of NASW advocacy efforts and resulted in legislative and policy changes. It is truly an amazing thing to be a part of!

I am excited to see this tradition of connection, collaboration, and advocacy continue. I am also hopeful that the workgroup can continue to integrate into the evolving world of technology to expand the support our global community has access to and receives. It was shocking to me to hear that The Health Resources and Services Administration (2023) reported recently that “Increasing the supply of the behavioral health workforce is not enough to address systemic, provider, and patient-level barriers.” This means that social workers cannot continue to just be social workers. We must be innovators and think outside of the box to both meet the needs of our communities while also finding the ever-elusive work-life balance that allows us to manage our own burnout.

Specifically, I am eager to shape a couple of what I believe to be key elements for the NASW-Michigan Private Practice Workgroup. First, through education and resource availability, I would like to dispel the fear of success and the intimidation surrounding billing that, in my experience, is the main barrier to incredible social workers entering into the world of private practice. I would also like to create a platform accessible 24/7/365 that can house frequently asked questions and their answers from other social workers in private practice to help guide decisions for those looking for support so that they don’t have to eagerly wait for the next workgroup meeting to gather suggestions.

It is my hope that ANYONE interested in the clinical practice of social work attends our meetings. There is so much value that can be gleaned from learning about things like the dynamics of billing insurance, legal requirements for intake paperwork, and considerations in offering remote services that apply even to social workers doing agency work. Looking forward to seeing you at the next meeting! Join the listserv here.