Today we’d like to introduce you to Ginny Gutman
Hi Ginny, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am one of those rare people where I knew since high school what I wanted to be when I grew up. I feel really lucky that I also had the natural skills that I could cultivate into successfully becoming a mental health therapist. I graduated from my master’s program in 2012 and next month it will be 12 years that I’ve been working as a licensed psychotherapist. I was living in upstate New York and moved to San Diego in September 2019 for a fresh start with more sunshine and warmth. I guessed that San Diego would be beneficial to my well-being and I was right!
After being in private practice on the side of a full-time job for a few years, I decided that I would go into it full-time in November 2020. I’ve been working for myself since then. I have hired two associate therapists at a time as they need supervision until they are fully licensed. I’m also supervising graduate level students who are learning to be mental health therapists weekly. It has been so rewarding to be able to work with and help clients on my terms as well as help therapists in training learn and grow here in this beautiful city. Originally I was only practicing virtually but recently I’ve been also back in the office meeting with clients in person in the Clairemont area of San Diego. It has been a great way to be more a part of the community.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The landscape of Telehealth and being a mental health provider has changed throughout the years I’ve been practicing. As a new therapist, Telehealth was mostly out of the question. Then the pandemic hit and we all had to meet virtually, and then insurance companies finally allowed Telehealth to become standard so more people could have regular access to care. Adjusting to these changes as well as helping clients with how hard the pandemic was for almost everyone has provided a steep learning curve. The beauty that has come from it though, I believe, is that more people are readily seeking out help when they need it and are open to being in touch with how they are relating to themselves. This in turn has helped people relate to others around them more successfully.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Ginny Gutman, LCSW Counseling Services?
The majority of my practice focuses on addressing the anxiety people are experiencing generally as well as in their relationships. I am passionate about helping young adults learn better communication so they can have better relationships. My approach is non judgmental, compassion-focused, tailored to client’s individual or couples’ needs.
If you’re looking for a therapist, you’re probably coming from a vulnerable space of needing help and trying to find that help can be intimidating in trying to find a good fit. So it’s important to make sure you tell potential clients your style and what you work best with.
I work hard to help folks feel seen, heard, understood and giving them to space to get what they need out of their time in therapy. I try to make sure I help clients understand where issues stem from to ensure I’m helping them with what they actually want different in their day to day lives. I’m also a pretty active therapist, so if you’re looking for practical tools to make actual lasting changes that build off of what you already know and do- I may be a good match for you.
What matters most to you?
What matters most to me is making sure that I am actually helping people live better lives with the work I do with them. I want to make a difference, even if very small. I believe we all need help sometimes and I enjoy being someone who helps people even if it’s a short period of their life journey.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ginnycounseling.com
- Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/ginny-gutman-san-diego-ca/805343
Image Credits
@dianarosephoto
