Private Practice Startup Podcast – Episode 141

Title: From Homeless, Single Mom to Successful in Private Practice
Date: June 22, 2019
Host(s): Dr. Kate Campbell (A) & Katie Lemieux (B)
Guest: Faith Carlson (C)

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the inspiring journey of Faith Carlson—from experiencing homelessness as a single mother to thriving in her private therapy practice specializing in eating disorders. Faith candidly shares her hardships, the tenacity that sustained her, the mindset shifts that propelled her forward, and her eventual success in private practice. The hosts, Kate and Katie, guide a conversation that highlights persistence, vulnerability, and the generational impact of resilience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Faith’s Journey: From Homelessness to Hope

• Background & Setback:
  • After 9/11, Faith lost her job in finance, became a single mother of two, and eventually found herself homeless after relocating from Arizona to South Dakota with only $50.
    • “[When relocating,] I landed my feet on solid ground here in South Dakota and started off, like I said, with $50 in my pocket and two kids with the hope of changing and growing. And it's been a journey ever since.” (03:20)
• Family Support:
  • Move to South Dakota was motivated by proximity to her parents, helping juggle work, school, and motherhood.

Mindset, Resilience & Eliminating Failure

• No Room for Failure:
  • “You got to eliminate the thought of failure. That can't be an option. That can't be even a conversation.” – Faith (05:30)
• Lessons From Starting at the Bottom:
  • Faith reframed every experience—even failure—as a learning opportunity.
    • “There's a lesson in every—even if it's a failure, there's a lesson in what you can learn from it, what you can grow from.” (05:53)
• Sacrifice and Family Lessons:
  • Sacrificed time with her daughters for school/work, but taught them resilience and perseverance.
    • “Your dreams and your destination and your destiny isn't limited by your circumstances.” (08:14)

The Power of Mindset and Flow

• Early Interest in Psychology:
  • At age 12, Faith bought her first psychology book and became obsessed with understanding mindset.
• On Following Intuition:
  • “When you're on the right track, that resistance is going to get reduced and you're going to actually get propelled forward.” (10:00)

Entering & Building Private Practice

• The Leap:
  • Discovered the podcast, which she credits as an “instruction manual” for private practice—noted the lack of such training in clinical graduate programs.
    • “We're not trained on how to go into private practice in school. ... Your podcast really created this instruction manual.” (10:51)
• Embracing the Niche:
  • Faith chose to work with eating disorders, South Dakota’s most challenging and under-resourced mental health need.
    • “We don't have any specialists here in South Dakota ... I wanted to be a support for them.” (12:52)
• On Calling:
  • Felt called not only to therapy but specifically to serve those with eating disorders despite the profession’s fear of the field.

Growth, Generational Impact & Giving Back

• Family Ripple Effect:
  • Both her daughters have adopted a growth mindset and resilience. One (12) spoke at a college about dyslexia; the other (16) has artwork displayed at Carnegie Hall.
• Creating Balance:
  • Private practice allows her more quality time with her children and a balanced family life.
    • “To be able to be home at dinner time with my kids is something that I hear my kids saying, just, thank you. I love you, mom more.” (26:54)
• Hit the Reset Button:
  • Family mantra: after hardship or tough days, “hit the reset button.” (25:58)

On Facing Resistance, Fear, and Responsibility

• Facing Resistance as a Guide:
  • “If I'm facing resistance that tells me I'm on the right track. That just tells me I'm going in the right direction.” (22:14)
• Responsibility to Shine, Not Play Small:
  • Discussed how therapists have a responsibility not only to themselves but to clients who need their unique talents.
    • “If you're really clear on who it is you want to serve and why you want to serve them, there's people who need you. Play small.” (21:56)

Humility, Authenticity, and Looking Ahead

• Humility as a Foundation:
  • “If we lose our humility, I think that at that point we're no longer serving people.” (24:15)
• Potential Book/Memoir:
  • Faith wrote a memoir at 18 and considers telling her fuller story. Her journey has been marked by radical transformation.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Failure and Mindset:
  “Eliminate the thought of failure ... I don't even entertain it.” – Faith (05:30/05:53)
• On Overcoming Circumstances:
  “Your dreams and your destination and your destiny isn't limited by your circumstances.” – Faith (08:14)
• On Serving the Underserved:
  “Why is everybody afraid of eating disorders? ... Isn't that a reason to support this leg of mental health?” – Faith (13:47)
• On Parenting and Growth:
  “The bigger that I grow, the bigger that they're gonna grow.” – Faith (25:06)
• On Resistance and Progress:
  “If I'm facing resistance, that tells me I'm on the right track. That just tells me I'm going in the right direction.” – Faith (22:14)
• On Humility:
  “Humility is in essence, it’s a foundation of what we can actually acquire and be able to grow into.” – Faith (24:15)

Timeline of Important Segments

• 01:53 – Faith introduces her journey, starting over in South Dakota after homelessness.
• 04:03 – Going back to college as a single mom, first in her family to go to college.
• 05:30 – Removing failure as an option; reframing setbacks as lessons.
• 07:11 – Discussing why she moved to South Dakota and family support.
• 08:08 – Sacrifice for the family and instilling resilience in her daughters.
• 10:37 – How Faith decided to pursue private practice; the role of the podcast.
• 12:52 – Faith’s niche: eating disorders, filling a major community gap.
• 13:47 – Faith describes why she tackled the “hardest” cases.
• 18:01 – Opening up about the addiction struggles that prompted her move.
• 21:56 – Discussion about the importance of not playing small and showing up authentically.
• 22:14 – Faith discusses how resistance is often a sign of meaningful growth.
• 24:40 – Shout-out to her daughters and how her journey impacts them.
• 26:54 – Achieving work/life balance, quality time with family in private practice.
• 29:15 – Faith summarizing key message: resilience and tapping into internal resources.
• 30:04 – Mention of guest resource: gratitude worksheet for listeners.

Listener Resource

• Faith’s Gratitude Worksheet:
  “Five ways you can integrate gratitude into your daily life” — practical and client-useful, available via podcast link. (30:04)

Takeaways

• Resilience is Innate:
  Faith encourages listeners to recognize that resilience is within everyone; it's a mindset and practice that reframes hardship.
• Private Practice as Empowerment:
  Building a private practice empowered Faith to create family balance, serve her community, and set a powerful example for her children.
• Embrace Resistance & Authenticity:
  Facing resistance may be a signal you are on the right path. Authentic sharing and stepping out boldly benefit not only you but all those you serve.

For More:

Visit PrivatePracticeStartup.com for resources, free trainings, and Faith's gratitude worksheet.

This episode is a testament to resilience, the power of mindset shifts, and the ripple effect that one person’s determination and authenticity can have on a whole family and community.