Welcome to the Empower LEP Podcast. I'm your host, Jana Parker. I am a licensed educational psychologist. I'm a group practice owner and I am the owner and a mentor at Empower LEP. Today I had the pleasure of hosting Miriam. I'm gonna ask her last name for Lakofsky. She like just started her LEP practice. She left the district. She's going for it. She has like an amazing website. She is in San Luis Obispo area. She was a school site, gonna be CBA. She has podcast. She has a nonprofit. She's kind of on fire. I'm so excited for her. She's like, it's just like not often that I get someone who's really just starting out who is like, I just quit the district and I am going for it. And yeah, I'm just like so excited to see what's gonna happen for her over this next year. It's exciting. So yeah, we had this fantastic conversation about all of those things and I had a great time and I hope that you enjoy listening to our conversation. I had such an incredible time talking with Miriam Burolikowski, licensed educational psychologist and BCBA serving the San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties and B.O.T. All right, welcome back to the Empower LEP podcast. I'm here with Miriam Burolikowski. Welcome to the show. Thank you so much for having me, Jenna. It's a pleasure. I am so excited to talk to you of scourge your website and there are so many things and so many directions we could go. So I'm excited to see what this conversation has for us. But Miriam is the owner of Slow Psych Services, which I think we can all assume is in the San Luis Obispo area. Looks like his mo beach, yes? Yes, San Luis Obispo County. Awesome. And yeah, so I kind of want to start with you telling us about your practice and we'll go from there. Yeah, absolutely. Well, I've been open for about two months since New Year's. And wait a second. So this is what you have going on here with your website and everything is two months old. Sort of. Because it looks so professional. Like it looks so good. Thank you. Well, okay, I'll tell you a little story. Okay, tell me the story of the pandemic. My pandemic project was to become yoga certified as an instructor. And wasn't sure what I'm going to do with that. Had a website created in 2021, 2021 for mindfulness coaching. And body image. What did I call it at the time? Just body freedom coaching. And I had a total of four clients, which who did really well, I actually have really great data. But that, I don't know, it just didn't, it didn't work out. It didn't, I either self sabotage or didn't persevere enough. I'm not sure quite what it was, but I think there was a lot of imposter syndrome and a lot of trepidation around scope of practice. And so even though I was very careful about, I was not their psychologist and I was not engaging in a therapeutic relationship, I was, there were a lot of things that were sabotaging me, I think, going in anyway. Can I have a couple of justical questions. Where did you get those clients? They were actually former teachers. I mean, not former teachers, former colleagues of mine. Okay, who knew me in person. Got it. Okay, so it wasn't like you went out and got random people, but they were people that you had known. Yes. Okay. And so I'm gathering, and this I think is an important, this is an important thing you're bringing up because you went out and got a yoga certification. You were, you are, were you already a licensed educational psychologist at the time? I was not, no, it's not at that time. Okay, so you got a yoga certification. You knew you knew a lot about psychology. You probably didn't have like a life coaching certification. No, but you just were doing some consultative coaching kind of psychological-ish services, but it felt challenging for you in that it felt like you felt like you weren't quite sure what the scope was and if you were covered, like you didn't feel safe. Yeah, I didn't. As much as I, I was very careful about my wording and I called NASP and, you know, basically they said, don't say that you're a school psychologist. Yeah. And so I tried very hard to be very transparent with the public about, you know, the services I was providing and what was within my scope of practice. But I had a, I had an app and a pre-recorded program on the app called Body Freedom Formula. I'm actually debating whether to put it into, make it into a book or not. But in any case, it fizzles either I fizzled it or it, you know, whatever happened, but maybe I just let them. I'm not going to let you go on yet. I don't want to go on because I think that what you're bringing up and thank you for like just being so transparent with how you feel or how you felt in that moment because I think this is really important for people like us. It's a really good kind of like, like, check on yourself and what we should or shouldn't be doing with the license that we have or the credentials that we have. Like, so for example, like, empower LEP, I am, that is separate from my business as a license educational psychologist. I am doing coaching and consulting, but I am not using my license to do that work. And so it has to be separate. So you, so there are ethics and laws around the kinds of things that we can do as school psychologists. Right? Like school psychology is to be practiced in the schools. And your license to practice privately covers like certain aspects, but if you're doing something outside of that with your skill set, you shouldn't be saying that it's within like the professional licenses that you have. That would be kind of under your yoga certification, but you have knowledge of psychology, right? So I just think it's a really important point because I think that lots of people are starting to think of things that they could potentially do, which they should, right? Like, every you should, we should be, we just have to really think about wait, like what scope of practice does this fall under or not fall under? So what kind of business do you have to have? And do you say I'm a license educational psychologist or I'm a BCBA or whatever, or do you not say that when you're advertising for that other thing that you're doing? And then like, what kind of business do you have for that? What kind of insurance do you have for that? etc. So it's just it's important for people to hear. So yeah, now I will let you. I agree and I think as as careful I try to be I think I still was uncomfortable with it. And and I probably could have fallen under the the BCBA license as well because it was behavioral and I was taking data I was following behavioral principles, but I don't know I think it's just uncharted territory and so I was uncomfortable with it. And so in any case that's where I got the website and then I've so I had it professionally done and then I went in and tinkered with it and sort of had a little reckoning with myself in December and in 48 hours I started my new business. That's awesome. Can I hear about like what happened in that 48 hours? Like what were you thinking? Well, so I had been my so I was working for the county office of education which is an amazing organization and super positive environment. I had an amazing boss transformational coaching, very servant leader, minded and I was so the program specialist.
in the support systems domain, and we were doing MTSS trainings for social emotional behavioral MTSS and also mental health grant work and doing some trauma-informed interventions and things like that. But basically I was a facilitator. And throughout the journey I started, I felt as though the facilitation was really hard on my body in mind. And I could not figure out why because I love public speaking. And I love training people and I love professional development. But the professional development that we were doing was like we were like on from 7.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. we were like on like no checking your phone, no you are completely present. Which I really appreciate that model, but it wasn't for me. I still have a little bit of trouble grappling with why exactly it wasn't for me. It's possible because I'm a highly sensitive person. Or you know I don't know I just I was so drained by it that it would I was a mess for the next three days after every one of these big training. And I would have like a trauma response like an avoidance to future one. And I kept talking to my boss about it. I was very clear about things. And it was just very draining to me. And I it just came to a point in December where I was like I've lured it out in a very bad fashion very unprofessional fashion. I was like I can't do this anymore. I don't think it's weird. Or were you by yourself or with your boss? Well I was with my boss. And one other colleague. And I had been grappling with it and talking to people openly about like I don't know why this isn't working for me. Why am I so drained by these interactions? And why am I like what is it that's bothering me that I can't just do this job because I've been able to push through every other job last you know 20 years. And I think that part of it is I'm you know as I age I'm getting less tolerant of the S and and also my own I don't know my own sensitivities and being kind of more more sensitive to that maybe. I'm left able to push through and just be numb and dissociate and just be there. Which is probably good a good thing you know that's what we want for our client but it's hard when you have to do a job. And so I came to December and it was like the day before break. And I had been talking to my colleague about it and she's like you really need to tell our boss. And I'm like okay well I'm just not ready to tell her and she's like you really need to tell her we're doing a planning for next year. And you need to tell her today and I was like oh gosh. And so we got in the meeting and I wasn't sure what I was gonna say and I was like man we should just I should just let her talk about next year and all this seven. And then I said this is not a good fit for me. And I can't do this anymore. And she you know was incredibly gracious and surprised but gracious. And gave me some some space for me to think about it. And over the course of winter break I just was stewing and stewing and just felt very unhappy until I came to the realization that I needed to open my private practice. And so I went for it and I just I don't know what I did a lot journaling and came to a decision and once I came to the decision I felt light as a feather. I was just on cloud nine. And so I think that was December 30th and I went in to the office. I already have an LLC for the other business and have this website. So I went down to the city, got my DBA and for slow site services which was very lucky that it was available. I was surprised. And yeah in 48 hours I was reading everything I could about everything going through your website for all kinds of LEP resources and had announced on Facebook that I was moving on to this. And folks to my boss and we created a plan for me to finish by March 7th. I had originally offered to stay till June because you know how that's usually how the contracts go. And if they had to replace me I didn't want them to have to pull from another school site to replace me. But she was gracious and saw that I was not doing well in this role in terms of my own mental health and was able to release me you know March 7th and today's March 11th. Today is my first full my my entrepreneur day. My day my first foray into entrepreneurship and away from K-12. Yeah. This is so exciting. I'm so excited. I'm so excited for you and we have to make a podcast date for March 11th, 2026. Oh I love that. Because I'm so excited to see what you do for the next year. Oh my goodness. You are just like at the precipice of like possibility. I love it. I'm excited. I'm really I feel 100% like confident in my decision. Yeah. That's great. Yeah. I mean I always say like I was so scared to leave. I mean it took me so long. I was so scared to leave and I have not looked back for one second. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. All right. Well I'm so happy. Okay. So you you start and like your boss was amazing. Like it's so nice to have had her support and understanding. Yeah. And I mean I get I'm did you just do this job for this year or were you doing this same kind of job last year too? No. I had just started in July. And so yeah. Before before that I was a psych for 60. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. I mean doing I didn't I never had a job like that. But like I do a lot of public speaking. You know like it all go and present at like conferences and stuff. I am not really a highly sensitive person. I wouldn't describe myself like that. But I can kind of only do I can only focus on one thing and everything else has to like kind of go away. Like I can't like I don't check my emails. I don't like if I am at a conference and I'm doing like a presentation and I'm there to like network or remember. I can't also do like sit down and write a report. Check my email. Like call a parent. I can't do any of that. Like I have to be doing this or doing that. So and it does take a lot out of you to be on. I used to do a lot of personal training too. And in that kind of role you also have to be on. Like for your clients and the people who are counting on you. It's a lot of pressure. And you have to bring like you're not any good if you don't bring all the energy. So yeah. I mean it's not surprising that you know like just everybody you know handles that in a different way. But yeah I'm like glad that you were able to listen to what it was that you needed so quickly too. Thank yeah. I think I've suffered through other things for much longer. Yeah. I grew intolerant. And I'm over that. Yeah. Yeah. Good. Okay. So you start your website. You know you're going to be in the schools for a couple more months. You so how did you start to like kind of ramp up your to like get your business going? Yeah. So I first thing I did was I got an electronic health record software. So I use simple practice. I really like how streamlined and simple it is. It's very intuitive. And I had been using it with my therapist.
loved the design. And so I was like, okay, boom done. And then I, what did I do? I went on Vista print and Canva and created some flyers and revamped my website and reached out to a couple therapist friends that I knew in the area. And one thing that was really interesting was I met with a therapist friend and I said, you know, how did you get started? Like, should I do Google ads? Should I, you know, go on Yelp? Like, where did people go? And she said, talk to other therapists. And it's like, oh, this. And I was like, what? I'm their competition. And she was like, no, there is enough to go around. And that was mind blowing to me because I just, you know, I'm, I have been in the corporate, in corporate America before I was in mortgage lending. And it was very cat-throat. And so that was my, you know, either mortgage lending or like public education. Those are my experiences. So that was revolutionary to me. And so refreshing. And so as soon as I started networking with other therapists and psychologists, they provided tips and tricks and said, you know, oh, I, you know, I'm not really good at this. I'd love to send that your way. And oh, I only deal with adults who also send you my kids or clients' kids, things like that. And it was very collaborative. I was blown away about how collaborative it was. And I don't know if it's just, do you find that in your area as well? Oh, absolutely. I would say that like my besides Google, networking with other professionals is absolutely the most, where we get our most of our referrals from. Yeah. Yeah. That's amazing. Yeah, because everyone does something different and everyone, you know, you don't, you only have so much space in your practice. And we want people to get help as fast as they can. And we want to make a good connection and a good fit, you know, and so you kind of want to know, you have like a face-to-face knowledge and interaction with somebody who is in even the same field. Like, I mean, we send adult, you know, like people come for adult autism assessment, like we send them to other people who do assessment, right? I mean, so yeah, I would say that's I definitely find that. And people want to know, I always say, people want to know you as much as you want to know that. Don't be afraid to reach out because they're looking for you too. Yeah, big time. So I've just been networking in the last couple months. I got my first client oddly enough through Yelp. I, you know, did a free 30-day ad or something like that. And it was day two of my my practice. And I booked my first client and um, for an assessment. And then another one found me through Google and then a few found me through colleagues. And I've been booked up every weekend for the last few months. Amazing. Yeah. That's so awesome. And so what are you doing in your practice, you know, like what kinds of services are you offering? Yeah, so I'm doing definitely assessment. So ADHD autism, learning disability, assessment, neurodivergent assessments for all ages, but I specialize in you know, toddler to 25-ish. And, um, and then also behavioral intervention. I am a board certified behavior analyst. And I know that most school psychologists have that behavior training. But I am helping with, you know, parent coaching, um, behavior management at home, morning routines are, you know, meltdowns and and bedtime routines and things like that. And then I am not an ABA clinic. So I would out, I would refer those out. But for the more complicated clients, you know, um, I do provide that service. And then I provide cognitive behavioral therapy for trauma, um, as well as, um, like resilience coaching executive functioning, intervention and, um, mindfulness-based stress reduction for teachers as well, teachers and parents. Um, and then IEEs. I haven't had any yet, but I'm looking forward to those. And I'm a regional center vendor as well. So, talk a little bit about that because I know that, you know, some regional centers are all about it and some won't hire an LEP with a 10-foot pole. So tell me, tell me how that worked for you. It's been a very long process. Um, I got an email over a year ago, probably a year and a half ago, saying, um, hey, we're looking for, we're going to open it up to LEPs for psychological assessment because we have just so overabundant of assessments and kids are waiting too long for their assessments. Um, so I filled out a little form and then I, about once a month, I had something else to like provide. And so it's been a year, a year and a half, um, and I just kind of trickled in every, whatever they needed. I just responded. Um, but it's been a really long process and I actually have not yet done any free-fjinnle center, um, assessment. And so I mean, I've, I've signed every contract. I've given them my rate sheet and everything. Um, I know that they are very impacted. Um, and always will be. And I would love to take some, some of the load off of their psychologists because I'm sure they're at their wood send. Um, but, uh, yeah, they reached out to us through the Selpa. Um, at least the Tri-County's regional center here, um, and opened it up. And it was funny because they opened it up and then they said, oh, well, we're still debating whether we're going to let LEPs do it. And I was like, well, that's interesting because you just sent out a bad female to, you know, 200 schools of colleges in the area. But, um, but then they, in the end, they agreed to it, but, um, I, I still haven't done any. I would love to. Um, I worked in a preschool program in my first couple years working and it was just so fun. I would love to get back into that, you know, early intervention. Well, that's great. I mean, I, you'll have to keep us posted because, yeah, I mean, there are definitely some regional centers that are like no way and others are, yes. So it's great and, um, yeah, we'll see what comes of that. I mean, I would like reach out and remind them like, hey, because people forget, right? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Well, okay, well, that is, um, amazing all the things that you're doing. And then you also tell me about your podcast. Yes. So, um, my podcast, um, came out of the Body Freedom program and I was interviewing women about being a woman, about having a body, living in a body, a female body, and how to be powerful and their own journeys and, um, their own journeys to body freedom if, if they felt like they were on that journey. And so, um, I had so much fun with it. Um, it was my favorite thing and I am now, um, starting to record my next season. Um, and I'm going to be looking more at, uh, mindfulness and mental health in general, not just, um, body focused. But I'm really excited to, to continue because I love the conversations that I've had and the network that I created, um, of, you know, just bad ASS women around the world that are, um, you know, willing to share their story. I always, I love hearing people's stories. Um, I feel like everyone has a really interesting background, how they got where they, they are. And I love stories of adversity, overcoming adversity. That's a big one for me as a, especially I'm a child of immigrant, of Ukrainian immigrants. Um, and my grandmother's the Holocaust survivor. I am big on, you know, finding a way through your struggles because we are all survivors, we are all resilient if we put our mind on.
to it. Yeah. How do you find your guests? Oh, that's a good, a good question. Um, Instagram stocking. Nice. Yeah. How cool. Yeah. Yeah. I would, um, I would go through Instagram and see who I'm following and who, um, looks interesting. And if I, um, if I saw them on another podcast and they could, you know, hold their own on a conversation, that's when I would, um, definitely reach out. Um, or if they had videos where they could, you know, hold their own. Um, I got a lot of nose or, or, you know, no responses as well, but, um, I just opened it up and would love to have you on the podcast and, um, let me know what you think. And I have a little letter that I, I provide with all the information, um, to make it as simple, just like your process was so simple and streamlined. Um, it's just, I want it to feel easy. I want it to feel like, um, it's a platform where I can showcase them and let other, other people feel less alone in this world and their struggle. Yeah. I love that. I feel like that's exactly what I'm trying to do too. Yeah. In this entrepreneurial struggle. Yeah. Um, yeah. Um, and yeah, I love listening to people's stories. I feel exactly the same way. Um, well, tell me about your nonprofit. And I think you were kind of alluding to that a little bit when you started talking about, um, supporting teachers and burnout. Yes. I am very passionate about preventing teacher burnout. Um, I have seen countless amazing teachers lead the profession. Yeah. And it's such a detriment to the future, to our future, our youth, and then our, you know, our, the future of our community. Um, because if the, if the fantastic teachers that are there burnout, then who are we left with? It's going to be a bunch of substitutes. And, um, you know, uh, I admire whoever takes that role. But, you know, there's a gift. There's a certain gift. There's an art to teaching. And if we're burning out the people who have that gift, and that's really a detriment to the world. Um, I think that we're not giving enough resources or support to the people in public education right now. Um, I definitely did not feel the support, um, in my previous role as a psych, um, you know, asking for help. And, um, I personally, I'll share that I got PTSD, um, two years ago from, um, some repeated interactions with a student who was nonverbal and, um, and, um, engaged in physical aggression to communicate protest. And, um, you know, not the child's fault at all. It was incorrect placement. I asked for help repeatedly. Um, I know that the people above me tried to help in their way, um, but also felt their hands were tied. Um, so the system is just not, um, it's not working the way we would like it to, I will just say that. So I decided to do something about it because I cannot stand and watch while amazing teachers, amazing educators, like, each path, all of the above, continue to lead the profession. Um, and I started this nonprofit. Um, I started, uh, creating mindfulness, uh, meditations on insight timer that we're free. Um, I am currently working on a book for mindfulness for teachers. Um, and I up until few weeks ago, I was working on a grant that got pulled, um, through Cal Poly and Elizabeth Bo. Um, we were working on a grant to support new teachers, um, through affinity groups, and we were going to provide cognitive behavioral intervention, um, through these groups. And, um, I hope to still do this and try to get some, um, donated, donated funding to do this. Um, but we have a, you know, I have a year-long program, uh, set up to provide cognitive behavioral intervention and mindfulness-based stress reduction to teachers. Um, and especially new ones, if they can figure out how to handle them, their, their stress on a daily basis, um, they can survive this profession. Yeah. And I think a lot of it comes down to boundaries and permission to, you know, to say no, permission to take care of themselves, permission to leave at four o'clock, um, permission to not give out your cell phone number. It comes down to a lot of little things. Um, and unfortunately, um, in the society, we have, you know, we as women have been conditioned to be givers and people, please, and then, um, when a, one profession is predominantly female, then we're all going to be these people, pleasing, um, givers, overgivers. And the system is going to continue to ask that, of us, and over ask. And, um, so my mission is to support all educators in resilience, in burnout prevention, so that they can be the best that they can be, and, um, improve the lives of the students in their communities and the parents, um, in turn, the parents in, in turn, the community. Yeah. So I'm working on a few things, um, you know, I, I had paused everything else to work on this grant. Now, the grant is paused. And so, um, um, would love some thoughts from, from you, from the community about what, what the needs are, honestly. Um, I would love to provide a program, um, for virtual engagement, to learn and to have like bite-sized, you know, lesson and practices on a daily basis. I'd also like to create a community of support for each other. Um, but I also don't want to impose on their already very demanding life. So, you know, it's so hard. It's, and it's so hard because like the, it's like you ask somebody to do one more thing and it just becomes like one more thing that they have to do rather than like, like, I wish there were a way where like part could be taken away so that they can do that one more thing, right? It's not like they're gonna get something off of their plate for putting something on their plate. Yeah. I was just talking to, um, when I was at NAS actually, I was talking to the, the Idaho Association of School Psychologists and, um, because I have a, we bought a house in Idaho and like at some point I'll, I want to go there. But they don't, you can't, you know, you can't be a licensed educational psychologist in Idaho. You have to be a licensed psychologist and so I wouldn't be able to do this job there. But she said, you know, in like this school district, like pretty close to where my house is, they have a four day school week. Wow. I know. I was like, what? So, I mean, I could see that being really great for the kids and for the adults. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, it sounds like, I mean, there's so much craziness going on with our like, if, with like our whole everything right now, we have no idea like what's gonna happen with everything. But maybe, you know, we want to be hopeful. Maybe there maybe something comes out of all of this that allows for more flexibility with teachers time or with like, I don't know. I don't know. Maybe like, there will be more flexibility for innovation and I'm just like wishful thinking right here. Like, I wishful thinking. I mean, who even knows? Like, that's why I'm, I'm actually really glad I'm not working in a system right now, you know, because I feel like I have more flexibility. And I was, we were just in my psych meeting earlier today and we were talking about like, what kind of support can we provide for educators in the public school system? Because we don't feel like special educators get enough training in lots of things, right? And so like, as a private practice, who has relationships with different school districts in the area like, who maybe
they want to contract with us to provide support for their special educators that they feel like they have more training because we just talked about how professional development isn't really geared toward special educators, right? So you're kind of thinking along similar lines like how do we how do we push and support for educators to be able to take care of themselves really, so that they don't leave, right? And I'm kind of thinking the same thing like how do we push and support for training so that they feel more, feel like they have more agency and can like do the job better. And yeah, because you're right, like there I'm looking at your website right now, like one in five will likely quit in the next three years and that's crazy. Yeah, and it's true. And it's the highest burnout rate in any industry. It's over it's either close to half or over half, I think it's 57% burnout. Yeah, it's insane. We're setting them up for failure and for all intences and purposes is the most valuable profession. We are literally cultivating the future and not giving them enough resources to do so. I love your website, so everybody on her website, it's like, wait, thinking of quitting education, quit here, like you're going to save people's lives. And then it takes you to a, you know, like a like a contact form so that you can, and it's awesome educators.org, I just like love that. So, and you're taking donations. So basically you're, you know, really trying to get people to donate to help to fund the support that you could give to educators. Yeah, yeah, let that. And we're a 501c3, so nonprofit, and so the fall tax deductible, you'll get a receipt, and 100% of the proceeds go to the program. I love that. Yeah. Okay, well, Miriam, you have so much going on. All right, so so if, so like you're right on the beginning of your journey for all of this, and I'm like just so thrilled for you as you start out, and you're already like rocking and rolling, like your sounds like you're already busy, and like, yeah, I'm trying to imagine myself in your shoes right now, like literally this is the first moment. Like, are you having, are you having those feelings, like, I should be doing such and such, or I should, or like what, you know, like I'm at the car wash at 11 a.m. and is someone, is my boss going to see me out there? Or like, can I go to the doctor? Can I pick up the bagels? Definitely, this morning, I was like, oh my gosh, right now I would be in a meeting on webinar or, you know, or bringing something for, to give, you know, disseminate to others, and I'm not. I'm my own boss now, and so I think it's, it's definitely not for everybody, but I have that entrepreneurial spirit. Clearly, I have my irons in a lot of fires, for a lot of irons in that same fire. But, um, but I, now it's up to me to hustle. I've got to market myself and fill up the time and replace my income. Yeah, well, it sounds like you're already on your way. I mean, if you're full, like every weekend, you almost replaced your income. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. And now you don't have to work all the weekends. Yes. Yeah. I think I'm still, I think I'm going to work Sundays for a little while at least. Um, and then, but I definitely want to fill up during the week. And then I'm still, I teach at Cal Poly, in the, um, special education masters program. And then, um, and I picked up another, uh, site class for next quarter as well. So, um, I've got a nice little balance between the two, um, two gigs. Yeah. That's awesome. What do you teach at, like, what do you teach in the education department? Um, I've been teaching research methods. So they're, um, basically they're, um, inquiry project, their research project. Um, it's not exactly a thesis, but they do an intervention and write it up. That's a manuscript. Um, and so there's a research lab or a research class that goes with that, and then like a lab, like an advisory. So I do both of those. And then, um, next quarter, I'm teaching, um, it's, um, it's kind of like a special education 101 for general education teachers, which I'm very excited about because there's not enough of that. And, and we all, I mean, it's just a new time, right? In education, like, we have to build capacity in all of our educators to support the students that we have. And so that, that means that general education, like we want to build their agency and their skills so that they can support our student, all of our students. Um, and so I'm excited. I'm really excited to do that. That's, this is the first year that the special education department is actually, um, uh, teaching that. It's also always been in the multiple subject world. And so, um, I don't know, I feel like, like the torchbearer, you know, so I do think, do they give you a curriculum to teach or do you make it up? I don't know yet. Probably I end up making up a lot of my stuff, even if I'm given it, but, um, but I don't know. I'm just, I'm taking it one day at a time. Yeah. You know, it's funny because what the, the year that I was like, okay, I'm going to just do private practice now, like that year. I was the president of my, like, area affiliate, you know, like, Caspa affiliate. I was the president of that. And I was teaching a class at San Francisco State. And I was running this practice. And I was like, all of it, I was like, oh, yeah, I'll have time to do those things. And I would immediately regretting that I had taken on so much. So like, my guidance to you would be just make sure you don't spread yourself too thin to many different ways, because you'll realize that like all the little pieces of running a business, it gets like really crazy really fast. You kind of don't realize, I would say like, the biggest part is you don't realize how long it takes to talk to potential clients, you know, like that takes up a lot of time. Yeah. And then following up with them. And then, you know, like, remembering they exist. And how are you going to keep track of all of that? And should you follow up with this person? Because it's been like five days and you haven't heard back or, you know, like those things. Yeah. I haven't gotten the CRM yet. I was called a customer. Yeah. The management system, I think. I learned about that a while ago, but yes, I always forget what CRM stands for. But yeah, I mean, a lot of people just start with a spreadsheet, you know, we use the CRM, but yeah, and it's always like a work in progress. I would also say just like make sure that you document all of the things that you do in case anyone ever needs to take those things over from you. And then you have it documented like in the standard operating procedures so that you can, you know, try to set up your systems in an organized way so that you can teach someone to do things more easily. Because maybe someday it will be more than just you. Yeah. I know. We'll see. I also heard about, I also heard, I mean, you're, you're my inspiration. So, yeah, thank you. No, so great. I mean, walk through that, you know, that path before you, and you don't have to pave it on your own, you could just like walk behind. Yeah, no, I'm trying. That's why I like really never that it was like work to have worked with, who's taught me something onto the podcast, you know, and like refer people to them because they've already done it. They are, they know, you know, like, yeah, I mean, you don't need to recreate the wheel all on your own. Yeah. Thank you for bringing those people into the fold, because I worked with Scott and he was amazing. So, such an amazing coach. Just really done, Iled in, right? Like, what I was, you know, fearful about and we knifed that in the bud. It was great. Yeah, you know, I forgot about that. So, like, really, that was,
like a big catalyst for you was it was happening right at the time. Like you working at him was happening right at that time and he helped you make that. I like I forgot that as we were talking. So yeah. Oh, that's amazing. It was awesome. Yeah, it was perfect timing for me. It was great. And then Emily, you know, her webinar the other a few weeks or yeah, yeah, like two weeks. Yeah, it was great. Yeah. So thank you for bringing those people into the fold because it's so nice to even have vetted providers, you know, all right, all right. For you. Exactly. And like no one is BS either. Like I would not do that to my field. And I have, I don't know if you got it, but I do have a like networking and grow your practice course on Empower LEP. Like that's one that I feel really good about. And it's like really all about all the different ways that you need to think about networking so that you can yeah, increase. That's my night purchase for sure. Yeah, I'm really excited about that because I think that's the way to go for for this profession of local networking. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Well, Miriam, it's been such a pleasure to talk to you. How do people find you? Yeah. So I'm at flow S L O dash psych PSYCH dot com flow psych dot com. And the nonprofit is at awesome educators dot org and look for the mindful Mary podcast coming out in the next few months. And reach out with any questions would love to just meet new people hear their story and send them in the right direction. Support them in any way I can. Yeah, that's great. Well, I have a I have a there's an ADHD coach that I know who's in your area. So I'm going to connect you so that you can cross refer and know each other. Awesome. Thank you. Yeah, it's all about that. And I know another another educational psychologist who's in the area to who you would just should know. Yeah. Yeah. I'll send you their contact info. Yeah. It's so much for having me. It's been a pleasure and everything that you touch turns to gold. So I'm going to be watching you. That is it for today's episode of the Empower LEP podcast. I hope that you found this conversation insightful and inspiring as you navigate your journey in private practice. If you enjoyed the episode, I'd love for you to subscribe and leave us a five-star rating and review on Apple podcasts. It really helps us reach more LEPs and school psychologists who are looking to build their own path in private practice. For more resources and community, you can connect with me at Empower LEP dot com on Instagram at Empower LEP on Facebook in the Empower LEP Facebook group or by email at
[email protected]. And just a quick reminder, the information shared on this podcast is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal, business or clinical advice. Be sure to consult with the appropriate professionals for guidance on your specific situation. Thanks for tuning in and remember you have the skills, you have the knowledge and you have the power to create a private practice that truly makes an impact.
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