GP(R) 17 - Practice Owners vs. Employees: What’s Really Happening? With Andie Baumgartner and Nadia Parfenova (Refresh)
“I think transparency that builds trust versus transparency that destroys it is a really tough balance.” ~Andie Baumgartner
Why therapists feel anxious at work, why practice owners feel overwhelmed, and how both sides can rebuild trust and psychological safety.
You know how we are always talking about dismantling harmful systems on this podcast? Well…what happens when those systems show up inside group practices?
This conversation with Andie Baumgartner and Nadia Parfenova from Rowan Tree Counseling goes deep into the complicated, emotionally loaded relationship between practice owners and employees. And, in fact, it was THE conversation that helped me realize we needed to work with employees as well as business owners in the Group Practice (R)evolution!
Topics include:
Therapist burnout and workplace trauma
Transparency, hierarchy, and power dynamics
Why trust feels so difficult in therapy workplaces
The emotional realities of group practice ownership
Risk tolerance, private practice culture, and clinician anxiety
From the fear many clinicians carry into the workplace to the pressure practice owners feel holding entire businesses together, we unpack what’s happening behind the scenes in the therapy industry and what it might actually take to build healthier, more sustainable working relationships.
GUEST CONTACT & BIO
GUEST BIO
Andie Baumgartner, MA, LCPC (she/her) is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and has been working in the mental health field since 2008. She completed graduate training and received a Masters Degree from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology. Andie began her career working in residential and community mental health settings, gaining experience working with individuals seeking relief from anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. She's also worked extensively with clients recovering from traumatic experiences. She specializes in working with individuals seeking a greater sense of balance, who want to live a more values-aligned life, and those struggling with non-monogamous and other alternative relationships. Andie is anti-racist, Queer-allied, sex-positive, polyamory-affirming, and kink-knowledgable.
Nadia Parfenova, MA, LCPC (she/her) is a Licensed Professional Counselor and completed graduate training in Clinical Psychology at Roosevelt University in 2019. She has experience working with teens and adults experiencing severe anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and eating disorders in partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and outpatient settings. Nadia has also worked with individuals with autism spectrum disorder and those healing from traumatic experiences. Her approach to therapy is integrative as she pulls from both more directive approaches (CBT, DBT) and client-centered guidance and support to treat anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, trauma, relationship concerns, and self-esteem issues. Nadia is also well-versed in ERP and has found it particularly successful in supporting individuals struggling with OCD. She is a native Russian speaker and can provide therapy in Russian and English.
Group Practice (R)evolution is a podcast series offering insights from owners, employees, and experts, and resources to support this wildly ambitious vision for the future. Become a part of the (R)evolution in our Authentic Leaders Group.
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This is a journey of self-discovery and leadership mastery, where you'll not only enhance your leadership skills but also forge meaningful connections with fellow therapists who are committed to their own growth and the betterment of the therapy field. Apply now!
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