How to work with English-speaking patients ASAP.
How these three psychologists started doing therapy in English as quickly as possible.
If you’re a mental health professional, we probably see eye to eye on at least one thing; that working with people (their emotions, dreams, and doubts) is incredibly rewarding.
One thing in particular amazes me time and time again. I love to witness the way my clients find their own unique and creative ways of dealing with challenges.
So today, I want to share three solutions that my clients have found to work with English-speaking patients as quickly as possible.
Volunteering as a therapist in English, especially in modalities and with populations that make you feel more comfortable.
My client D. had a crystal clear goal in mind. In May 2024, she was relocating to another country and wanted to start seeing patients in English there.
In our classes, she had been going from strength to strength, gaining fluency, accuracy and specialized vocabulary. But to get more hands-on experience in English before moving, she contacted a local charity that helps Ukrainian refugees adapt to their new life in her country. Being highly experienced in group settings, she immediately offered to lead a series of six group therapy sessions. She also decided to work with women, more specifically mothers.
The program was so successful that it was expanded to ten sessions. The hard work my student put in to prepare the sessions paid off, and she was surprised by how comfortable she felt. She clearly chosen a modality and population that worked for her, and it made it all a little less intimidating.
2. Temporarily offering sessions at a reduced price point in English.
My hard-working and skilled client M. moved to England a few months ago. Though she works online with people from her country, she dreams of opening up her practice to in-person clients in England. But despite her experience and skill, she doesn't feel fully comfortable. She can't help but compare herself to English therapists (which is a whole other topic for a blog post!). Deep down, though, she knows she is more than capable of doing it, and doesn't want to keep postponing it. Her solution? To set up a website advertising her services at a reduced price, for a limited time. This is a win-win situation. She gets valuable practice, and people who are usually unable to access therapy get the chance to get the help they need.
3. Encouraging bilingual patients to have the session in English.
My student K. lives in Paris, in which there is a large English-speaking expat community. As he has an advanced level of English, he didn’t want to limit himself to working in just French.
For whatever reason, he gets quite a few requests for therapy from patients who speak both of those languages perfectly. When the patients ask which language the session would be in, he speaks frankly. He explains that he’d prefer to work in English, as he wants to build up experience, but with the possibility of switching to French in case there seems to be a misunderstanding or any confusion. Of course, the patient gets the final say and only agrees if they feel comfortable with this arrangement. But so far, everyone has accepted and this has given him crucial, first-hand experience.
I hope these three examples inspire you! As you can see, it’s always possible to find your own unique ways to grow as an English-speaking therapist.
However, before you start putting out ads for therapy in English left, right and centre, I need to make one thing very clear.
First of all, make sure you know yourself and really feel ready enough to get started.
In all three cases I mentioned, these therapists decided to work in English after careful consideration and having 1:1 classes with me. This involved specialized work including evaluating their level, learning the expressions and vocabulary they needed and a lot of role-playing.
If this is something you are interested in, feel free to book a free consultation here. In it, we can discuss your level, needs and objectives. Let’s discover how I can help you get started on your journey as an English-speaking therapist!
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In any case, I hope these three examples inspire you, make you want to take action and get one step closer to having an international private practice!
