A Day In The Life: Meet Divorce Counselor Misty E. Vogel, MA

A ten year career in the mortgage banking industry not only prepared Misty Vogel, M.A., NCC for many of the business aspects of self-employment, but also for managing the intense emotions that come with major life transitions.

Helping clients buy homes seems far from providing therapy, but the process of helping mortgage clients navigate intense emotions that surface during home purchasing has been added to Vogel's therapeutic skill set.

Fresh out of graduate school, Vogel is just starting to build her practice in Denver and in Evergreen while she continues to work as an extern at Evergreen Psychotherapy Center, a practice specializing in treatment of attachment disordered children and families.

In her private practice, Vogel combines her experience doing attachment work with her passion to help children and families navigate the difficulties of divorce and custody issues. Vogel's own parents divorced when she was 5 so she knows first-hand the impact divorce can have on the entire family. Peek into a day in the life of a therapist just beginning to build her private practice and see what it takes!

A Day In The Life

February 13, 2012

6:30AM

Alarm is sounding and my husband is up and out of bed quickly. I, on the other hand, reach for my phone which is next to me on my nightstand, easy to check email from here. I turn on the local news to check the weather. No snow and warmer temperatures… happy about this, as it means I can go for a walk later (self-care).

7:00AM – 8:15AM

Getting ready for my day includes planning lunch and a change of clothes. My externship is located in the foothills outside of Denver in Evergreen, about a 30 minute commute on a good day.

8:15AM – 8:50AM

On my commute to Evergreen! I can’t complain, this drive is often quite picturesque – many times the moon is setting to the west, or the snow capped mountains are glistening in the sun rising upon them, and, more often than not, I am fortunate enough to spot wildlife – buffalo, coyotes, elk, hawks, and even eagles once in a while! I also am lucky to use this time to make a few phone calls. (When I was still studying for the NCE exam, I used this commute to listen to Dr. Rosenthal’s study CDs!)

9:00AM – 12:00PM

In session, an intensive at my externship. Our current family is in real crisis. Mondays of the second week can be very tense because the families have just spent a couple of days outside of treatment and often they fall back to old patterns. Unfortunately, in this case, the crisis may not be diverted and it appears this week is going to be a tough one.

12:00PM-12:50PM

An hour with an individual client – my own client, not part of the externship. Without a break between the intensive and my individual session, I am feeling some hunger pains! Those almonds didn’t quite cut it.

1:00PM – 1:30PM

Commute back to Denver, meeting up with an old co-worker and friend who has a networking group she wants to introduce me to.

1:30PM – 2:45PM

Lunch with friend. Networking is essential at this stage of opening my own practice. I also attend a Private Practice support group as well as numerous workshops and conferences.

3:00PM – 4:00PM

Changed into walking clothes at the restaurant and went for a walk at the park. This is my self-care time!

4:15PM – 6:30PM

Back at my home office. I make finishing touches to my post card announcements for my new practice and two offices. Order those online – some will be mailed to a small database and the rest will be distributed in local coffee shops and local hang-outs. Post a quote on my business Facebook page – I find that if I do this every day, people are more likely to remember me and my practice. Open up the project I am currently dreading…building my website. I am trying to determine if I chose the right web page host; it hasn’t been a user-friendly experience thus far.

6:30PM – 7:45PM

Cook and eat dinner with my husband. Catching up on one another’s day. He is working on a start up company and we are also beginning the journey of seeking out fertility options. The journey has just begun – I filled my husband in on the task at hand getting in for a consultation with the fertility doc, information gathered on a phone call during my commute this morning.

7:45PM – 9:00PM

Took a little time to read up on divorce and attachment. I had downloaded a few articles over the weekend. I am considering writing a blog targeted to this population.

9:00PM-10:00PM

Both my husband and I are exhausted. We treated ourselves to a few TV shows on the DVR. Turning off our brains before heading to bed tends to produce better sleep!

10:00PM

Turning in – thinking about the family I’ll see tomorrow at Evergreen. They have been on my mind a great deal this afternoon.

Find out more about Misty's practice at  www.mistyvogel.com.

If you'd like to submit a day in your life for this series, please contact me here.

Therapist Roll Call: Join The Private Practice Facebook List

Thanks for your fantastic response to my roll call for private practice therapist using Twitter! Therapists from all around the globe have joined the list. I'll will continue to add therapists to the list so feel free to join anytime by commenting on that post.

I wanted to do the same thing for Facebook Business pages to help you connect to other like-mined therapists to share resources, ideas, practice building tools, and referrals. Only licensed mental health therapists will be listed.

Here's what you need to do to join the Facebook List...

Post a comment below and include the following information:

1. Facebook page name &  page link (Facebook business page, not personal profile)
2. your name & credential
3. your city & state
4. specialty areas

As the comments come in I’ll post comments and paste your info in the body of this post below to make it easy to click through and "like" the Facebook pages listed.  I look forward to connecting with you. Feel free to forward to colleagues.

Therapist Facebook Page List

Wasatch Family Therapy & Julie Hanks LCSW, Julie Hanks, LCSW, Salt Lake City, UT, women’s mental emotional health, emotionally focused couples therapy, family and parenting, private practice consulting, media contributor

Timeless Solutions Counseling Services ,Tiffany C. Huggins, MEd,NCC,LPC, Charlotte, NC, Specializing in loss and grief issues, Depression, Stress/Anxiety and Life Transitions for children, adults, and older adults.

Drops Of Change , Jo-Anne Mac Millan BA Hons., MA, Limerick City, Republic of Ireland, Humanistic & Integrative Psychotherapist

Maplewood Counseling New Jersey, Debra Feinberg, LCSW, Maplewood, NJ, Anxiety or Fears, Relationships, Parenting, Gay and Lesbian Issues, Multicultural Counseling

A Peaceful Balance, Jennifer Bois-Slattery, LCMHC, MLADC, ICAADC, Nashua, NH, trauma, gender identity counseling, substance abuse, adolescent issues, clinical supervision

Synchronicity Counseling & Wellness, Boise, ID, Kama Hiner, LPC, Nichole Jordan, LCPC, Denae Barowsky, LPC, Marci Danielson, LAMFT, Kristine Kirsch, LPC, Arlene Winkle, LMSW, We are a small group private practive with 6 counselors working with children through adults, anxiety, depression, trauma, custody, LGBT, parenting, EMDR, Sexual issues

Kim Wright LCSW, Kim Wright, LCSW LGBTQQI-friendly, eclectic approach, mostly works from a Cognitive Behavioral / Solution-Focused, aged 15+, who seek treatment to recover from Anxiety, Depression, Sexuality issues/disorders, Psychosis, and Relational/Couples therapy

Soul Tenders, Wendy Bencosme, PhD, Maureen Leigh, MFT, Carol Bennett, MFT, Brandon Guin, MFT, Jan Salvay, MFT, Arcadia, CA, Divorce & Support Group, Anxiety, Grief/Loss, Depression, EMDR, Somatic, Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Parenting, Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Dreams Group, Teens, Couples/Marital Therapy

Pam Dyson, MA, LPC, RPT, St. Louis, MO, Parent coaching, play therapy for children 3-12 years of age

Bruce Nystrom, PhD, Wichita Kansas, specializing in psychological assessment (clinical, forensic, employment, disability, medical) along with stress management, habit control (smoking, weight control, medication compliance), and sex offender treatment

Birmingham Counseling for Women and Girls, Sara Levitsky, LMSW, Birmingham, MI, women and girls of all ages, depression, anxiety, self esteem issues, relationship problems, school/peer issues, parenting support

Cathy Hanville, LCSW, Albany, CA, Trauma, PTSD, EMDR, anxiety, depression, and gender identity

Julie Fanning LCSW, West Dundee, IL, anxiety, mood disorder, early adults and midlife

Carrie Christiansen, LPC, Lenexa, KS, young adults and adolescents with concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and relationship issues

Kelli Hyland, M.D., Salt Lake City, Utah, Whole-person, individualized, collaborative approach to medication management (& psychotherapy) for adults with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD.

Segal Psychotherapy, LLC, MA, LAMFT, GLBTQ Friendly Therapist helping couples and individuals recover from infidelity, sex and porn addiction, and sexual abuse and sexual trauma.

Julie Jeske, MS, NCC – registered intern working toward my LPC,  Portland, OR, individual, couples and groups, sexuality, intimacy and relationships, women's Live Your Best Life Group

Jason A. Tompkins, LCSW, Tampa, Florida, survivors of suicide, couples, teenagers, Support Group for Adults with Asperger's Syndrome

Integrity Psych Heidi McKenzie, Psy.D, Monroeville, PA, clinical psychologist, anxiety disorders with adults

Miranda Palmer, LMFT, Modesto, CA,  Trauma Therapist doing specialty work with EMDR and other trauma treatment strategies

Lisa J. Johnson, LMFT, Albuquerque, NM, relationships, all forms of families; married, cohabitating, single parent, or blended families,  parents and friends of lesbians and gays and gay parents

Kelly Higdon, MFT, Laguna Hills, CA, women in divorce, anger issues, twenty and thirty something issues

Deborah Owens, Philadelphia, PA, adults and couples, specializing in marriage and couples counseling, anxiety, and recovery

AKCCOnline J. Kip Matthews, PhD, Athens, GA, Consulting, Mind-Body Health, Diversity Issues, Continuing Education Programming, Psycho-Educational Workshops, and College Student Mental Health

Joel D. Carnazzo, Psy.D., Chicago, IL, Substance Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, CBT, Motivational Interviewing

Good Medicine Healing Community, Kimberly O. Sieber, Ph.D., PLLC, Salt Lake City, UT, evidence-based psychological interventions and scientifically-validated spiritual practices aimed at facilitating mental, physical, and spiritual health, and treating chronic pain, medical and neurological conditions, anxiety, depression, bipolar, PTSD, and other stress-related illnesses

Terry Moore, LICSW Omaha, NE, hypnosis in psychotherapy, advanced training and experience in the behavior therapy to treat OCD

AZ Body-Mind Counseling Art Matthews, MA LPC, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, AZ, Stress, Anxiety, Panic, Depression, Grief/Loss, Divorce/Uncoupling Recovery, GLBT population

Seasons of Healing Counseling Services Cary Collins, MEd., LPC, Charlotte, NC, life transitions and those experiencing pain (physical/emotional/spiritual) find balance and well-being in mind/body/spirit.I also facilitate groups in SoulCollage(R)

Lucia Cassar Psychologist/Psychoanalist, teenagers, adults and elderly

A Peaceful Life Counseling Services Kat Mindenhall, LCSW, Lakewood, Colorado, cognitive Behavioral, solution focused, and mindfulness therapy for depression/anxiety, parenting, families and couples

Shari Cohn, LCSW, CSAT Madison, Wisconsin, Sex Therapy; Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity; Internet Porn & Cybersex Addiction; Partners, Spouses, Families of Sex Addicts; Survivors of Abuse, Assault, Trauma; PTSD; EMDR; Sexual Difficulties of Abuse, Trauma Survivors; Depression; Anxiety; Individual, Couples, Marriage Counseling

Jodie Gale MA Psychotherapy Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia, eating disorders, addiction, infertility and alternative parenting paths, life crisis, relationships, anxiety and depression

Fran DiDomenicis, Ph.D. at East Bay Counseling Walnut Creek, CA, Mindfulness Based treatment for Depression, Anxiety, Addictions, and Chronic Pain; Marriage and Relationship Counseling

Jennifer Bois-Slattery, LCMHC,MLADC, ICAADC Nashua, NH, USA: Specialties, trauma, gender identity counseling, substance abuse, adolescent issues, clinical supervision

Dr. Ranjan Patel  brief-term counseling for rapid symptom reduction, and longer-term psychotherapy for deeper exploration, tailor-made treatment for your unique needs, specialties include: anxiety; depression; chronic pain/illness; mindfulness training, relationship issues–in individual and/or couples

Sharon Martin, LCSW San Jose, CA: specialize in mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, grief & loss, infertility & pregnancy loss, CBT

Tammy Fletcher, M.A., LMFT San Diego, CA: Medical issues: chronic pain/illness, new diagnosis, disability. Couples therapy, individual and family therapy, depression, anxiety, trauma. Fluent in American Sign Language – deaf and hard of hearing clients welcome

Melissa Wright, MA, LPC, RPT, Kansas City, MO Northland:  children ages 3 and up as well as adults and families who need services due to trauma, life transitions and mental health needs

Demyan Rossouw Cape Town, South Africa: Cognitive Behavioural Coaching & Facilitation, Gen-Y Coaching & Mentoring HIV Coaching, Creativity Coaching

Tanya L. Hilber, PsyD San Diego, CA: middle-age transitions for women and children with trauma, individual issues with a practical, psychodynamic approach that includes finding balance in life

DragonMuse Coaching & Facilitation Demyan Rossouw, Cape Town – South Africa: Cognitive Behavioural Coaching & Facilitation, Gen-Y Coaching & Mentoring, HIV Coaching, Creativity Coaching.

Metis Counseling Kansas City, MO Northland: Work with children ages 3 and up as well as adults and families who need services due to trauma, life transitions and mental health needs.

Rinske Goettsch MA, MBACP Counsellor, I see adults, elderly and couples for short and long term therapy. I specialise in relationship issues in a humanistic and creative way.

The Online Counselling Service Faith Moyo, Accredited Psychological Therapist, 24 Hour Online and Telephone Therapy. Access the worldwide service 7 days a week via secure Email, Instant Chat, VoIP, Webcam and Telephone.

Child's Play Services Andalusia, Alabama: Registered Play Therapist and National Certified Counselor. I specialize in child, adolescent, and family issues.

Erika T. Kendrick, LPC Montclair, NJ: specialize in depression, grief & loss, and domestic violence.

Regina Bright MS, LMHC Mary Esther, Florida: Individual, group, and family therapy for children and adults, developmental and emotional problems including depression, anxiety, stress, as well as unresolved issues resulting from childhood, delinquent and “at risk” adolescents and their families

Child, Parent & Family Institute Nitika T. Bey MSW, LSW, Pennsylvania and New York: Long Term and Short Term Solutions Focused Counseling (STSF)

Mind & Body Journal with Karen Gorrin Karen Gorrin, MA, LMHC Olive Tree Healing Arts Bellevue, Washington: Helping busy professionals find ease and wellbeing. Integrative Psychotherapy, Corporate Wellness, Mind and Body Workshops and Retreats.

Tracy Tucker, LCSW Arlington Heights, IL: My mission is to empower clients and assist them in achieving their personal goals for a healthy, successful life.

Ed Santana, MA, Psychotherapist, Toronto, Ontario: Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Therapy for Individuals and Couples.

Life Designs of Miami by Roberta Gallagher South Miami, Florida: My major focus is working with couples in crises due to betrayal i.e. infidelity: emotional, physical, online, phone.

Kate Elrod MS, LPC-S Austin, TX: Adults, Depression, Anxiety, Self Esteem, Past Abuse/Trauma, Life Transitions.

(Your info will go here...this list is ongoing to add your comment any time. Please summarize your services in one sentence instead of posting a comprehensive list. Thanks!)