Today we’d like to introduce you to Susan Gonzales
Hi Susan, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Born and raised in Austin, I knew at age 13 that I wanted to be a therapist. I had a keen interest in human behavior and often read books about well-known serial killers. I also asked my parents if I could go to therapy. The attention and care that the therapist provided were life-changing, and nothing that I had ever experienced before, and that is when I knew.
I went to college at The University of Denver and graduated with a degree in Psychology and Criminology. I worked at a teen runaway shelter and completed an internship as a sex offender therapist. My interest in psychology grew even more!
After college, I worked as a Probation Officer, and I would frequently visit my clients in jail. It occurred to me then that I was born with an immense amount of empathy for men, particularly in regard to how they are socialized. So, I pursued a master’s program in counseling at St. Edwards University. After graduation, I worked with incarcerated adolescents and eventually became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. I started my own private practice in 2009 and worked with adolescents, families, couples, and adults. Additionally, I co-facilitated a men’s group. I also created a workshop titled “The Business of Private Practice,” where I taught the ins and outs of running a business and encouraged therapists to make money!
Fifteen years later, I am now a “group practice owner.” At this season in my career, I am dedicated to promoting quality therapy through supervision and training. I used to feel passionate about helping clients, but now I feel passionate about helping clinicians. I offer supervision to postgraduate students and offer a multitude of various training for clinicians. Most importantly, I continue to LOVE what I do!
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?
NO! I frequently say that I am the one who creates the mess and then has to clean it up. And once I have it figured out, I teach the mess. Initially, I had no idea what it would take to “run” a business. I was just excited that I had finally made it! So, I dove headfirst. Got the office, furnished and decorated, and took out a business loan. I was confident that I would pay the loan off within the year. Next thing I knew I was knee deep in debt and pregnant. I had no idea how I was going to support a child, let alone myself. I will never forget this one time when I was in Walmart trying to purchase diapers. My credit card had been declined, and I did not know how I was going to buy diapers. The person in line behind me whispered, “I can buy those for you,” and she did. Fueled by shame and having to remind myself that I had a master’s degree and owned a lucrative business, I knew that I needed to change. I moved to Kyle where the cost of living was more affordable, which meant that I had a much longer commute. I spent my commute time listening to business podcasts. As soon as I arrived at the office, I would immediately create a handout. I started to change aspects of my business based on what I had learned, and the result led to monetary gain. Eventually, I created a workbook with all of the handouts and titled it, “The Business of Private Practice: A Guide to Help You Work Toward Building a Compassionate and Fulfilling 6-figure Practice. As a result, I taught 17 business workshops over the course of several years. I was eventually able to get out of debt, pay back the loan, and educate others so that they would not have to get into the same mess that I did!
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Susan Gonzales and Associates Counseling (SGA) is a group practice located in Westlake. The group practice is composed of 6 clinicians, including me. The clinicians at SGA are brilliant and passionate about what they do! They excel in normalizing the stigma of therapy and are quick to establish a trusting and unique relationship with each client. They genuinely care. We are also able to provide services to a wide array of populations to include neurodivergence, men, couples, and families. We know a lot about relationships and view them as a mirror. It is only in relationship that we can truly see ourselves.
There are a lot of clinicians in the Westlake area, and what sets us apart is quality.
Clients that are referred to SGA are guaranteed quality therapy. First and foremost, our practice will return phone calls promptly. Our office manager, Carena, is responsible for all of the client inquires and is readily responsive. Based on the client’s needs, she will match them with the appropriate therapist. The therapist will then offer a 15-minute free consultation. It is a seamless process.
Lastly, the clinicians at SGA are experienced and well-trained. They have been seeing clients for several years and have participated in a multitude of trainings. They are required to attend a monthly training and participate in a monthly consult group held at the SGA office. We enjoy learning from other professionals and from one another, as well. The greatest commonality amongst the therapists at SGA is that we like to make therapy fun and are known to use humor. We feel that laughter is important, and we also make it a point to have fun together!
Our main purpose and goal at SGA is to improve the client’s quality of life, and we are known for accomplishing this goal! We continue to grow rapidly, which means we must be doing something right!
What makes you happy?
Gosh, SO many things! However, I think as I get older, I have learned to appreciate the smaller things. First and foremost, my career makes me VERY happy, and I love that I get to model that to my children. I also enjoy spending quality time with my children outside of the house, getting together with friends, and laughing. Additionally, I love running on the trail behind my house and watching the birds and butterflies. However, my home makes me the happiest.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://susangonzalescounseling.com
- Instagram: sga_counseling
- Facebook: Susan Gonzales Counseling
