My guest today, Deanna, has followed her passions to a place where she now runs a Canadian private practice, working with horses and their riders while still being a nurse. She has combined her expertise and personal experience so that she can work and make a difference in the lives that she is most drawn to.  In today’s episode, Deanna and I discuss her entry into psychotherapy, how she manages to be a nurse while running her practice, and how she has integrated her love for horses and the life of being a rider, including its challenges, into her practice as her professional niche.  MEET DEANNA Deanna is both a Registered Nurse and Psychotherapist! At Evolution Counselling, her mission is clear: to assist individuals in overcoming day-to-day concerns and to empower athletes, especially equestrians, to better understand and manage their mental health. Whether they are striving to excel in their sport or simply seeking support in navigating life’s challenges, she is there to provide a safe space and compassionate guidance every step of the way. Learn more about Deanna on her website, Psychology Today, and Facebook profiles.  In this episode:  Deanna’s career in therapy  The desire to open a practice  An equestrian therapist Deanna’s advice to listeners  Deanna’s career in therapy  Deanna completed her nursing degree right after completing high school. She had her sights set on being an ICU nurse. Once she graduated, Deanna had a mental health position as a nurse when she worked with cancer patients in Hamilton.  While Deanna was completing her Masters in Counselling Psychology, she switched between working full-time and part-time as a nurse to support what she needed to do to complete her degree.  She hopes to transition to full-time therapy one day soon, and to grow her Canadian practice into a group private practice. The desire to open a practice  Deanna wanted to open her own private practice rather than work as a therapist in a hospital setting because she wanted to be her own boss.  The flexibility of running her personal and working schedule, and the ability to be in charge of her day, was something that she wanted to align her professional career with.  An equestrian therapist Deanna has the skills and understanding to be a great equestrian therapist.  She had personal experience as a competitive horse rider, and so knew first-hand what the challenges were that many riders faced, both inside and outside of competitions. The stress, the fatigue, and putting themselves last, were all aspects that she had experienced and wanted to help other riders with.  Deanna wanted to encourage riders to also take time and care for themselves, and not to give absolutely all of their attention to their horses so that they can continue to compete and be well overall.  ‘I think one of my biggest successes [has been] the long-term clients that I have, and just [to see] the progress that they’ve made … Just knowing that I am that person who they can reach out to [is amazing].’ - Deanna DeSantis Deanna’s advice to listeners  Make connections! Talk with people, ask questions, and don’t be afraid to reach out to someone that you look up to. There is a lot of insight available to you when you place yourself in the right circles with the right people.  Connect with me: Instagram Website  Resources mentioned and useful links: Ep 145: Lauren Mallon: Why Niching is a Practice-Boosting Superpower | EP 145 Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free) Learn more about Lauren on her website, Instagram, and Psychology Today profiles. Rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and TuneIn