You may or may not know, but cupcakes are my most favorite food. So you can imagine my delight when I came across a Cupcake Store while I was in Vancouver! Between us…I had one everyday! I must say that my favorite flavor was the Chocolate Pink Princess…yum!

Now, you may be asking what does cupcakes and niches have to do with one another?

Who would have thought that a Cupcake store would be visited by both young and old alike. There were older customers such as myself…and then little kids who chose to visit and have their birthday parties there.

This got me to thinking…what is your specialty?

And more importantly, can you narrow this down even more?

The Cupcake store sure knew what they were doing…

I would love to know your thoughts. Share them on the blog comment section below. I so love connecting there with you.

Love and blessings,
Casey

One thing I know about our profession is that we often have strong opinions. And I for one, love hearing them!

Case in point: My new 5-part report: “The Future of Psychotherapy: Don’t let these five trends catch you by surprise.” (Get your copy  in the box to the right and then please pass it around.)

In Trend #1, I wrote about the Medical Model and the Personal Growth Model of therapy. This has created strong controversy on both sides. Some professionals are passionate about the need to take a medical view. Others are concerned that the medical model has tarnished the image of therapists and therapy with the general public.

But Trend #2: “The Line between Coaching and Therapy will become more blurred” has by far created more of a stir than almost anything else I have done since we started Be A Wealthy Therapist.

I have had dozens of emails and comments.

Let me share a few of those comments from therapists (omitting names for privacy)

Some are from therapists who also do coaching:

“I transitioned into coaching two years ago and LOVE it! I enjoy working with motivated clients and appreciate the forward thinking of what coaching brings. I don’t like the medical model that assumes pathology and how it dictates who, what, when, where, and how you can work with clients.”

In response to my question about the lack of laws regulating the coaching profession:

“I received my (coaching) credential and I am also a therapist - (LSCW) in private practice.  I am not too concerned with the lack of laws concerning coaching. I make sure that my welcome pack is very thorough in covering some of these issues.  I found the ethical class offered by the coaching school very helpful as well.”

I also asked “Do you separate your work? Is it clear when you are a therapist and when you are a coach?”

Here is one response:

“Depending on my clients’ starting point, I often begin in the therapist role helping clients find their intuitive selves and to fully feel their emotions.  Once they get in touch with their inner selves, then  we work together  discovering their choices and to find their passion or dream goal(s), and that’s when I believe the coaching begins.”

While these are a sampling of those who enjoy coaching, there were some equally passionate feelings about the entire profession of coaching. For example,

“I have strong concerns about self-appointed “coaches” opening practices and charging as much or more than licensed therapists when they haven’t had the 6-8 years of higher education that becoming a therapist requires.  Nor have they had supervision, standardized exams, continuing education requirements, and ongoing legal/ethical training.  I think therapists need to protect their profession from those who claim that they can “do the same things we do” without graduate school or licensure or state oversight.”

Here is another:

“It’s frustrating to see coaches with less experience, less restriction move into our space. I could have been a coach 8 years ago based on what training most have had.  However, for my own growth I’m glad I took the path I did.”

As someone who has a strong foothold in both professions, I too have strong opinions. In fact I have been invited to write an article for a national magazine on the subject.

So, before I complete that article, I’d love to have another “Open House Town Hall Meeting” on Tuesday, June 23 to hear your thoughts on the subject. http://www.TherapistLeadershipInstitute.com/townhall

Join us for this lively event!

This will be a International Therapist Leadership Institute Open House tele-meeting hosted by me, Casey Truffo.

You are invited to share your thoughts on the subject. In fact, you can participate in several ways. You can be a part of the call live. You can sign up and get the recording later. Or share your thoughts in the comment box below.

If you’d like to register for the  Open House Town Hall Meeting where our agenda is the Coaching and Therapy Professions, please visit: http://www.TherapistLeadershipInstitute.com/townhall

I can’t wait for this exchange!

I hope you enjoy this issue of the International Therapist Institute Newsletter where you will find three juicy items to savor.

1. A timely and important report on trends in the future of psychotherapy.

2. An entertaining and inspirational no-charge teleseminar.

3. And an article on inviting opportunities into your life and business.

Total reading time? About 7 minutes.

As always, I strive to support and enrich your life and career so you can do what you do with more ease, joy and passion.

Please let me know if I am meeting that goal by commenting at the links below or hitting reply. Enjoy!

Love and blessings,
Casey

Casey Truffo, CEO, International Therapist Leadership Institute
http://www.TherapistLeadershipInstitute.com

New timely and important report:

The Future of Psychotherapy:
Don’t Let These Five Trends Catch You By Surprise

http://FutureofPsychotherapy.com

One of the great joys of my work at International Therapist Leadership Institute is to look at trends in the field of psychotherapy. As you know, there are someinteresting changes in our culture and with the way therapy is viewed and services delivered. I found five trends that I want you to be prepared for. Some may affect you directly and some may not. But all will affect us as a profession.

To get your copy of our complimentary five part report series, The Future of Psychotherapy: Don’t Let These Five Trends Catch You By Surprise please visit: http://FutureofPsychotherapy.com

Please share this five-part with your colleagues. I don’t want anyone to be surprised by these trends.

New no-charge teleseminar with Bill O’Hanlon:

How Change Happens

Tuesday, June 30, 2009    4-5pm Pacific…7-8pm Eastern…11-midnight GMT/UTC

Join me as I interview Bill O’Hanlon, author of 29 books and well-known psychotherapy presenter. Based on his book Change 101 (W.W. Norton), an excerpt of which was featured in O Magazine, Bill will summarize the seven primary ways in which people change in therapy and life. As a bonus, he will throw in a list of 11 ways to stay stuck (for all of you who are averse to change).

“Opportunity doesn’t knock; it waits to be invited in.”

You’ve probably seen this in action. While some private practitioners are comfortable in the status-quo, others are ready to stretch a bit. They are quite open to new ideas and actually looking for them.

Here are four stories of private practitioners who were ready for new opportunities and they took a simple idea and ran with it.

Lisa told me that no client ever asked if she accepted credit cards. She took this to mean that no one would really want to use their card to pay for their sessions. But she heard me talk about the advantages of accepting credit cards and she decided to try it. While it maybe not typical, she told me a few months later that her income had tripled. People came more often due to the convenience of payment options.

Sandra’s daughter was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes. She called the local diabetes resource center and ask for a referral to a therapist as this diagnosis had really impacted the whole family. The diabetes center in her town reported “We have no referral list for therapists specializing in diabetes or any childhood illnesses.” Sandra contracted with them to create a hot line for newly diagnosed families. She personally answered that hot line (it was a cell phone.) She was able to offer support to families and build quite a name for herself in the area. Her practice grew quickly.

Mark was not comfortable with public speaking but he felt called to share his message about how good dads can become great dads. He followed his calling, got over his stage fright and now is a sought after speaker by churches and schools in his area.

Vondie was a self-declared techno-phobe but knew that technology was the way of the future. She now has a successful website and blog. She also writes an online newsletter that appeals to her ideal clients.

All four of these clinicians tuned in to what their market needed. They listened to their inspirations. They did this in a light, easy way. It wasn’t “I can’t do this but I know I should so I will grit my teeth and figure it out.” It was “I see this opportunity right in front of me. What will I make of it?”

It is easy to get comfortable where we are. After all, it probably took a lot of stretching to get to this place.

Every day, dozens of opportunities for greatness are available. Sometimes they are just a glimpse or a whisper. But those who are actively looking and inviting them in, hear them and see them.

And now I ask you…

* Where do you want to be? Personally and professionally?

* Where might you be playing it safer than you need to?

* What are you tolerating in your personal life because it seems easier than confronting it?

* Where in your business are there untapped possibilities?

* What opportunity is just waiting to be invited in by you?

I’d love to hear what you think. Feel free to share your comments in the comment box below.

Until next time…and as always, I am holding the vision for you!
Casey