Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelby Cook
Hi Shelby, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My passion, for the length of my psychotherapy career, has been serving service members, veterans, and their families. I was excited to accept a position serving this population in an outpatient therapy setting. However, the excitement diminished quickly. I was shocked to find that a mental health clinic could be so unaware of the mental health of its providers. I was put in a situation where I felt my physical well-being was in danger. Even after expressing this to management, nothing was done, and I was forced to continue to see this client and was not provided with any real support. I was berated and belittled by clients regularly. The difficulty was that there were no ramifications for this kind of behavior. Clients knew they could get away with this- it was the status quo. I had many amazing and kind clients, but unfortunately, this did not outweigh the verbal abuse I endured regularly.
In addition to verbal abuse, intimidation, and general mistreatment, the workload was unmanageable. I felt pressured to work every second of the day; this included skipping lunch most days to return client phone calls, responding to emails, and working on the endless to-do list of online training. With so much emphasis on productivity, I felt like my quality of care was reduced. I felt anxious every morning on the drive to work. I left work feeling defeated every night. By the time I got home each night, I just wanted to return to bed. I struggled to do routine things like working out, cooking, and doing household chores. I was feeling so burnt out. After 8 months in this toxic work environment, I had enough. I submitted a 30-day resignation notice with no real plan on what to do next.
While planning my next move, my partner, Jeremy, and I took 15 days off to backpack Colombia and explore the Amazon. It reminded me of how simple life can be, and I needed to take time to unwind and reconnect. I felt renewed after checking off this childhood bucket list item and returning home. This trip reinforced what I already knew- I would never be happy working for someone else. I decided to jump right in and start my own private practice. My goals were simple. I wanted to provide life-changing services for clients and find a healthy work-life balance. From the wreckage of what was supposed to be a dream job, Cook Counseling and Consulting Inc. was born.
Not only did this experience spur the business of my dreams, but it also helped me define my research interests. I was new to the doctorate in healthcare administration program and was unsure how exactly I wanted my interests in business, healthcare, and mental health to intersect. However, this formative moment in my work life illustrated occupational stress’s important role. I was burnt out, did not feel supported by leadership, and had an unmanageable workload. I was surrounded by psychotherapists, psychologists, and psychiatrists who were just as miserable. Morale in the department was low, and turnover intention was high. This was not a coincidence. I was able to deduct that work-related stress was at play. I began to read everything that I could find on occupational stress. At this job, I saw so much of the research in my day-to-day life. The more I read, the more I wanted to share this critical information with anyone who would listen.
Now, I can confidently say that I am a corporate wellness expert. I understand what factors are needed in a business and the economic ramifications of occupational stress. I understand leadership philosophies and policies that create a healthy work environment. My passion for this research continues to grow. I am so excited to continue sharing with organizations, teaching and coaching them to be mental health-informed workplaces, and improving the overall well-being of employees. I am passionate about implementing my findings into my own practice and making it a happy and healthy place for my team of over 90 clinicians.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
So far, one of the biggest obstacles in growing Cook Counseling and Consulting Inc. is keeping up with the demand. There is such a great need for high-quality and accessible mental health services in central Ohio and beyond. We are so proud to say that we do not have a waitlist for psychotherapy or psychiatry services. However, staying ahead of the need for mental health services is a tricky balancing act. When the practice’s growth started taking off, I was not prepared to hire and train six to eight new providers every month!
When I started my practice, my goal was simple: work in solo practice, set my own schedule and see enough clients to make ends meet. With such rapid growth, I had to think and act quickly. This meant a lot of weeks with long, long hours to draft policies and procedures, build our first website, recruit and hire talented clinicians, and find space for my team to hold sessions and see clients. I also had to relinquish control- which is hard for many entrepreneurs. I had to trust my team and that I had trained them well enough to handle tasks completely on their own because there were not enough hours in the day for me to do all the tasks I had been balancing at such a high volume. This was a difficult period as I tried to trust the process and move from doing everything independently to sharing the workload with new people on my team. This happened within a few months, so there was little time to adjust and settle in.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Cook Counseling and Consulting Inc. is a mental health practice offering therapy and psychiatric services. We also provide specialty psychiatric assessments, including Autism, ADHD, and IQ assessments, personality inventories (MMPI/ MCMI), pre-surgical assessments for bariatric surgery, immigration psychological assessments, adoption psychological assessments, fitness-for-duty evaluations, and WPATH letters for gender-confirming medical treatment. We see clients as young as three years old and offer counseling for couples, families, and groups. We currently have group therapy for addiction recovery, mindful eating, coping skills development, survivors of domestic violence, teen boys, teen girls, and family members of those in active addiction or recovery.
We have offices around central Ohio for in-person services in Gahanna (800 Cross Pointe Road, Suite 800D, Gahanna, OH 43230), Baltimore (1055 W Market Street, Suite B, Baltimore, OH 43105), and Pataskala (131 Oak Meadow Drive, Suite 105, Pataskala, OH 43062), as well as statewide via telehealth. We hope to add at least two additional central Ohio locations in 2025!
We accept all major insurances, including Tricare, Medicare, and Medicaid. We also have a pro bono program for survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). This program is also available online and can be completed at home at your own pace. Cook Counseling and Consulting Inc. is a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB).
In addition to traditional psychotherapy, we also offer novel treatments, including the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) for the treatment of trauma. Shelby Cook, LISW-S, LCSW-QS, CCTP, is also working alongside UnyteHealth to research the efficacy of this novel treatment for trauma. Cook Counseling and Consulting Inc. also has therapists specializing in modalities, including EMDR, CBT, CPT, MI, ACT, yoga, and so much more! We are best known for our diverse staff and eclectic and trauma-informed treatment approach. We know that healing and wellness are not a one-size-fits-all approach, and our team works with every client in our care to create an individualized treatment plan to help you meet the goals that are most important to you.
If you aren’t quite ready for mental health treatment, we have tons of mental health freebies, including courses, worksheets, workbooks, ebooks, and activities, available on our website!
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
In the face of the COVID-19 crisis, we’ve learned invaluable lessons about the resilience of the human spirit and the importance of adaptability. At Cook Counseling and Consulting Inc., we recognized the urgent need for accessible and flexible mental health support as individuals navigated unprecedented levels of stress, anxiety, and isolation.
We swiftly adapted our approach to ensure our services remained readily available to those in need. Embracing technology, we transitioned seamlessly to teletherapy, providing a safe and convenient space for individuals to prioritize their mental well-being from the comfort of their homes.
Through this experience, we’ve reinforced the significance of personalized treatment plans and evidence-based approaches. Every individual’s journey is unique, and we are committed to understanding their distinct needs, offering hope and understanding as they seek to regain control over their lives.
Above all, this crisis has underscored the vital role of compassion, empathy, and unwavering support in our work. We are a guiding light, offering a safe and welcoming atmosphere where individuals feel heard, valued, and empowered to take the first step toward healing. As we continue to navigate the challenges of these uncertain times, we remain steadfast in our commitment to being a beacon of hope for those seeking a brighter, more fulfilling future.
Pricing:
- As low as $0 with insurance
- Over 99% of our clients use insurance benefits
- $150- $240 self-pay
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cookcounselingandconsulting.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/cookcounselingandconsulting/
- Facebook: http://facebook.com/p/Cook-Counseling-and-Consulting-Inc-100085224431009/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cook-counseling-and-consulting-inc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYB_XAeHbV3dyxazdwR_DGg
- Other: https://ccc614.thinkific.com/
