5 Things I Can't Live Without as a Therapist
What are the items you can’t live without? Your wallet, your keys, your phone? We all have those things that we need. As a therapist and group practice owner, I want to share with you 5 things that I can’t live without. There are also some honorable mentions I will talk about at the end. I hope this article inspires you and gets you excited about private practice. Let’s go!
MacBook Pro (2017)
It’s obvious that as a virtual practitioner, you need a computer. I currently use a 2017 MacBook Pro. Despite its age, it continues to work great for all of my daily needs as a therapist. The thing I love about it most is how easy it is to use and maintain. It rarely slows down or has any issues that require a tech person. It just keeps on running, which is awesome. I am on this thing like 8 hours a day and it just keeps going. I also like how the computer seamlessly integrates with my iPhone. Don’t worry; it is all HIPAA compliant.
I also do a lot of video editing, and for the most part, the computer continues to handle this pretty well. This is where the computer becomes a bit slow, as the video technology has evolved much since 2017. Other than that, though, this thing is a beast.
Kindle Scribe
I recently was gifted a Kindle Scribe, which quickly became a must-have for me as a therapist. There are several reasons for this.
First, I always need to be educating myself. That means I am reading a lot of books. I am currently reading Russell Barkley’s book titled "ADHD." And having this Kindle allows me to have all of my books, even the DSM, in this one spot. I keep it on my desk so I can reference this whenever. I prefer reading on the Kindle because it feels better for my eyes, and it’s nice to be able to step away from the computer for a bit.
The Kindle Scribe also doubles as a notebook. It comes with a digital pencil of sorts. It feels almost like writing on paper. Whether it's an idea I don’t want to forget, or I am drawing a diagram for a client, having this digital notebook is awesome!
EHR
I can’t live without my EHR. An EHR is an electronic health record. This is basically the backbone of any practice. This is where you keep notes, hold sessions, submit claims, and pretty much run your private practice. Some people try to run their practice without it, but that quickly becomes unmanageable. With an EHR, you can access your practice from anywhere. It is so convenient. Wherever you have an internet connection, you can access your EHR. It’s fantastic. I am currently using SimplePractice.
Herman Miller Sayl Chair
For the longest time, I sat in a dining room chair until my back and neck felt like they were literally breaking. I didn't see the point of investing in an office chair. A chair is a chair, right? WRONG! I now realize a good office chair makes a world of difference.
After a lot of research, I went with the Herman Miller Sayl chair. Although a bit costly, it was a worthwhile investment. I also think I saved money by avoiding the physical therapist.
This chair has been phenomenal. Not only does it look really cool (in my opinion), but I don’t have any back pain anymore. I have been sitting in this chair for a majority of the workday for over a year.
Airpods
I don’t think I would be able to go a day without my Airpods. These help me to hear my clients crystal clear, while also upping the privacy of the sessions. Not to mention, it makes taking phone calls so much easier. This is another accessory I didn’t think I needed until I had them. They are wireless and automatically connect between my phone and computer. So switching between a virtual session and a phone call is seamless.
Honorable Mentions
Strong Coffee
I am not much of a coffee snob, but I do drink a lot of coffee. The stronger, the better. I must admit, I am a sucker for pumpkin spice coffee in the fall. I recently found this Deathwish Coffee which is super strong and also flavored like pumpkin. You will find a mug of coffee on my desk 99% of the time.
A Quality (big) Mug
I always need a beverage on my desk. It’s typically coffee or water. That’s why I have this Yeti cup on my desk all the time. The bigger, the better.
My Camera
I have an external camera that I can’t live without. It is how I make my videos. I also use it as a webcam sometimes. I currently have the Fujifilm XS-10. It is awesome.
My Phone Charger
I have this magnetic charger from Anker. Honestly, being able to charge my phone while it stands upright is amazing.
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