Different Ways to Use Your Clinical Skills

One of the things I love about being a therapist is that there are so many different ways to make an impact. I started my career in community mental health, working with children and families. After a few years, I got a job at Walter Reed Military Base, providing therapy to active duty soldiers, many of whom had recently returned from combat.

Eventually, I started a private practice, specializing in therapy with teenagers. Later, I added immigration evaluations, and along the way, I started teaching and supporting other therapists doing this work.

In each phase of my career, I’ve learned a ton and had the chance to do incredibly meaningful work. I’ve also discovered that when it comes to innovation and expansion, the possibilities for our work are endless.

I’ve learned how powerful it can be for therapists to ask themselves: "What do I want my work to look like next?"

For some clinicians, the answer is a full caseload of therapy clients. They love doing therapy all day and wouldn't have it any other way. This was how I spent the earliest years of my career.

But for many of us (myself included), there's also a desire for variety. We still love working with clients, but we may also enjoy supervising, consulting, writing, teaching, facilitating groups, or conducting assessments. One of the beautiful things about our profession is that there are so many ways to use our clinical skills. 

When I added immigration evaluations to my practice in 2012, I was immediately struck by how they allow me to use many of the same skills I use in therapy, while making a different kind of impact. 

I'm still listening carefully, asking questions, and assessing symptoms, but instead of providing ongoing therapy, I'm conducting an evaluation and writing a report that helps decision-makers better understand the psychological impact of someone's experiences.

I love that immigration evaluations draw on my clinical skills, but also allow me to use a different part of my brain. When I write the report, I’m thinking about how to amplify the client’s voice and bring their story to life. I’m approaching the report with objectivity and impartiality, while also trying to document the very real and painful impact of what the client has been through.

Immigration evaluations also offer the flexibility to work from anywhere, so instead of spending every hour in back-to-back therapy sessions, you can work from home or a cafe, whenever you have a free moment.

And the best part is that the wins here are huge! You meet with the client once or twice, you write the report, and then months later you find out that this asylum seeker can now remain in the U.S. or this family can stay together. 

Celebrating that a case is successful is truly the best feeling in the world.

What I see for myself and so many therapists is that adding variety and flexibility to clinical work can help us build careers that feel sustainable and fulfilling. New referral streams can help create a thriving practice. And by expanding our impact, we can do energizing work that also makes a powerful difference.

The truth is, there isn't just one “right” way to be a therapist. What matters most is finding a professional mix that aligns with your strengths, interests, and the kind of life you want to build. Immigration evaluations are just one example of how therapists can make an even greater impact, while building on the skills they already have.

If you'd like to learn more about immigration evaluations or explore whether this could be a good fit for your practice, download our free ebook, 5 Signs that Immigration Evaluations Are for You.