Interview Assessment #4

Name of Professional: ​Rachel McGuire

Profession/Title: ​LPC

Business/Company Name: ​West Plano Counseling

Date of Interview: ​September 18, 2019

Interview with Rachel McGuire of West Plano Counseling

Job title? Job Duties?

● LPC, run my own private practice

● part time (see people at my house)

○ 50 minute sessions

● age range

○ see clients age +; college students, couples, individuals, etc

■ Love seeing adolescents the most

How did you become interested in a career in psychology?

● started in sales (marketing for 6 years)

● people liked to talk to me (colleagues + friends)

○ "you should become a counselor"

● SMU: worked there and took classes

What approaches do you utilize?

● pretty "hodge-podge" (eclectic)

 ● Favorite=CBT

○ especially effective for clients with anxiety and panic disorders

(Fear-based thoughts)

○ look at thoughts and the evidence (or lack of) that is being used to

support it

○ "interworking of thoughts and behavior"

○ TENTS

■ Thoughts, evidence, new thoughts

● Relatable/nonjudgemental approach with teens

○ Nurturing but candid in general

Rewarding aspects of the job?

● flexibility in schedule (have to build up to this)

● guiding people towards getting to a better place

● favorite areas of focus to work with:

○ teenagers

■ how to navigate everyday life

○ kid(s) with divorced parents

■ personally can relate and recognizes their struggles

○ women post partem

Challenging aspects of the job?

● couples that divorce/argumentative couples in session

 ● when a teen makes poor decisions (ex: vaping), it is hard to resist the urge to

tell the parent as I know I would want to know that about my kid

Advice for someone interested in opening up their own private practice?

● learn how to market, how you want to brand yourself, and what you want

people to see you as

○ have to have people know you exist!

■ have to sell the idea that you not only can help but that

you care

● personal method:

○ when getting started, I would stop by doctor's offices and give them

my information in order for them to be able to tell their patients

about me

■ once a year, I host a luncheon for them, bringing

bagels/donuts and pass out business cards

● "differntiate yourself in the market place"

How do you stay balanced? How do you decompress?

● glovebox method

○ when I am beginning my day, I put my mom away and counselor

out

■ vice versa for when my work day has concluded

● compartmentalizing is key
 ● keep head above the water and don't allow yourself to drown in sadess

○ no sad movies, no news, avoid sad stories from friends

● take care of yourself

○ good relationships

○ journaling

Lessons learned? General advice?

● when dealing with couples, don't get "triangled" in

○ Individual seeing someone on the side, let her know to either tell

him or I can't see y'all anymore

● child of divorced parents

○ need custody agreement in writing

○ both parents on board

● stay out of court matters

● cover bases; no games of telephone

○ "Dad, Mom said _____ about you in session today!"