With turnover rates in the mental health profession annually ranging from 40-70% it's time we begin to really explore what may be the cause of so many strong, passionate and driven professionals to leave and pursue other career paths. Many times in this profession we focus less on all of the wonderful and hopeful things we learn in the school setting and become so productivity and dollar driven. This can cause a helping professional to second guess their role in these settings and perceive the job as more harm than good.

When these professionals leave, the harm doesn't just end with another professional jaded by the system or with heavy hearts, it causes damage to the client and their relationship to mental health and overall healthy relationships. If we as professionals new and seasoned want to reduce harm we must seriously look at how and what we are doing to sustain providers in this profession.

This weeks guest Angela James, LMFT and I sit down and talk about mental health, private practice, the importance of mentorship and increasing our community care to preserve strong professionals. Angela has been a mental health professional since 2004. After years of community mental health service she decided to take the leap into the private practice world.

She has opened the door for many professionals to see private practice from another lens. This leap has supported Angela to sustain in the profession, but also give back to others who are at the end of their rope and wanting to throw in the towel because mental health is not a supportive community.

This episode is for the new grads, I hope you are able to gain valuable knowledge that will sustain you long-term and for current professionals I challenge you to be the community for new professionals that you needed when you first began your journey.

You can find this weeks guest at:

IG: angela.james_mft

classroomtocouch.com

lighthousefamily.com