Today we’d like to introduce you to Leigh Barnett.
Hi Leigh, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Elko Counseling Center has been open for three years now, which is really hard to believe. Looking back, it’s been a whirlwind. After completing graduate school at Ole Miss, I worked in a psychiatric hospital. I loved it and gained a lot of experience that really set me up to work with clients who suffer from severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. When my husband and I moved to Texas in 2013, I started working for a community mental health clinic where I continued to work with this population, but just on an outpatient basis. I really loved the clients, but the actual work environment was pretty horrific. From then on, I started seeing clients privately after I got off work every afternoon. I was busy and worked a lot, but it was totally worth it. My husband was supportive of what I was doing, and it worked for us. I juggled the full-time job with benefits and the private practice job during after-hours for about 2 years. After my oldest daughter was born in 2015, I decided to make the move and transfer completely to private practice. I was lucky enough to partner up with another clinician who planned to grow her practice. I was able to participate and learn as the practice evolved. I learned a lot of what to do and what not to do as the practice increased with multiple locations, therapists, billing departments, etc. Eventually, on a long drive from Taos, NM over Thanksgiving, my husband and I decided it was time for me to go on my own and open my own practice. We spent the entire car ride (12hrs) discussing how we would make this work and figuring out the logistics. We opened soon after in February and haven’t looked back. Elko is the name of one of my favorite band’s (Railroad Earth) albums. We have obviously had our own growing pains and situations where we’ve had to really buckle down and figure things out, but it’s been smooth sailing for the most part. I now have three kiddos (6, 2, and 10mo), work full time and own my own practice. With the help of a small village, we are in a really good spot with an established practice that cares for those struggling every day. Elko is relaxed, has expectations for therapists to have a work and life balance, and is committed to offering top-notch therapy to our clients.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I am not a businessperson. I am a therapist- through and through. I knew this would be a challenge for me from the very beginning. I was confident in my ability to be a good therapist, but I was a very hesitant in my ability to run a business. There were a lot of things I just didn’t know how to do and had to learn. Everything from dealing with insurance companies to setting up tax information, to actually getting paid. When my office was built out, a lot of things were messed up. It was my responsibility to take care of this and make it right. There wasn’t anyone to handle it for me because I was the owner of the business- it was all me. This was a shock at first- and sometimes still is.
Additionally, when I first opened, I hadn’t hired anyone. I was working crazy hours to make sure expenses were covered and doing it completely on my own. When I eventually got around to hiring other therapists, I really had to learn how to interview people and pick therapists that would be a good fit for Elko Counseling. Then, I had to actually manage these people. Again, I’m a therapist who works with those struggling with schizophrenia, not a manager of all therapists. I’ve learned and am still learning every day.
Personally – During all of this, I was struggling with fertility issues. I had suffered four miscarriages in the previous two years and was currently doing IVF. I started IVF in January, opened Elko in February, and found out I was pregnant soon after. It was a hormonal whirlwind. I look back and think how in the world, and why in the world, did I do all of that?!
Most recently, like everyone else in the world, we were weathering the Covid storm. We’ve taken it one day at a time as our entire field has completely changed. Covid has had a lasting impression on the world and the mental health field specifically. As therapists, we are still learning how to navigate being the best counselor for our clients. We’ve been flexible while we learn what new therapy looks like through a screen. It has its pros and cons for sure. I’m so proud of the way our therapists have handled what life looks like now.
As you know, we’re big fans of Elko Counseling Center. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Elko Counseling Center is a small practice located in North Dallas. We are at the corner of 75 and 635 right next to Costco. We are a small practice; we are laid back; and at our core, we just care about providing quality therapy to our clients. We have a variety of therapists that see children, teens, adults, couples, and families. We pride ourselves on being a little bit of a “one-stop shop” as our therapists work together to provide individualized care to entire families. One therapist will see a mother individually, while another therapist sees the child, and another therapist will see the family together. Our therapists all specialize in different areas of mental health- depression, anxiety, mood disorders, substance abuse, self-esteem, eating disorders, family issues, relationships, and psychotic disorders are just a few. I specialize in working with those suffering from severe mental illnesses like bipolar disorder and other psychotic disorders. I also see several people struggling with depression, anxiety, and trauma disorders. I practice Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). I think what I am most proud of as a therapist is my clients know I truly care for them. I have clients I have been seeing for 5+ years and it’s because we’ve established a good therapeutic relationship and committed to bettering their lives. At the end of the day, therapy isn’t fun- it’s hard work. If you have someone guiding you and listening to you every step of the way, the mountain doesn’t seem as big.
I’m most proud of Elko Counseling for sticking to what we know. We know we aren’t some big, fancy practice- we are just people trying to provide therapy. We are personable and easy to work with, while still not undervaluing ourselves as working professionals.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The biggest piece of advice I have for someone just starting out is to put your head down and just work. If you put in the time and effort at the beginning, chances are it will work out for the best in the future. Build a good support system- friends, family, other professionals, you can bounce ideas off of, get their opinions, and allow you to just vent. Be prepared to mess up and admit your shortcomings. Then, be prepared to fix them and continue to evolve as a business owner.
Pricing:
- Private pay sessions are $145, but we do have a sliding scale and are able to work with most clients if they choose not to use insurance.
- We accept BCBS, UHC, and Tricare. If clients plan on using insurance, the cost of therapy will depend on your insurance plan. We will verify your insurance and inform you of session cost prior to your first session.
- If we are out of network, we will provide a supervill for you to submit to your insurance company. You can potentially be reimbursed for sessions.
Contact Info:
- Email: Contact@elkocounseling.com or leigh@elkocounseling.com
- Website: www.Elkocounseling.com
Image Credits
Niki Bullock
Fallon Stoval
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