Time flies

 Hello everyone!!!!!!! I am so excited to be here, and I promise I will be posting way more often!  This summer has been filled with all the feelings!   

My first week was a success and has continued through the fall. I am now paneled ( in network) on two insurances- (Medicaid and UHC) possibly three but waiting on the official letter.  I hired a helper to make sure insurance was done right and she is amazing! She checks insurance cards and submits claims, and takes a huge load of stress off of me! ( you've had to deal with insurance on the patient end, its even worse on the provider end!).   

I have such amazing community y'all. My friends have helped me recreate my logo, redesign my website, given me resources to learn how to use technology and save my sanity.  I recently did a self care bag drawing when my facebook page reached 300 followers!! I am learning so much about social media, computers in general, and the adventures of running my own business while being the main provider in a business.  

I am excited to continue sharing with you, my next big technology venture is my virtual office that will provide resources on how to handle COVID-19, General Anxiety, Adhd, Mindfulness and more, as well as fun games to play if you need a break ( including chess, checkers, mancala, pictionary, more to come) 

I also plan to "Go Live" more frequently on facebook! ( or even instagram), please comment if there are specific topics you would like me to discuss!

First week in!! my OWN agency

So excited! ALL the feels everybody.  Fear and excitement, nervous and contentment.  I am one week into my clinic, and it is so weird not being fully busy with things to do and a full client load to see.  I have plenty to do and had a productive week, but it isn't like being at the old clinic.  Here I am the boss, I get to approve my releases, policies, documents, set up billing, figure out insurance, marketing, referrals, waitlists and so much more!  This week I was able to get my billing system set up to my new portal, documents with digital signature sent to clients who followed me, signed a few people including a new client up for sessions and saw people for sessions!!!  I also did a bunch of online teaching classes with Qkids and Cambly, and did with with my BetterHelp clients!!!  I will also be a new member of Talkspace after i complete orientation. Talk space and Betterhelp are Online Telehealth clinics to help supplement until i build a steady client load through my regular clinic.

I seriously dislike insurance, just gonna throw that out there! However, i am willing to go through the difficulty for clients old and new.  I have been accepted into the Optum Panel which is a string of UHC .the "behavioral health side of UBH". So that is super exciting! I am working on Forward / Medicaid and hope to get that soon. The trouble with insurance is i have to fill out applications with all my special numbers, and wait.... and wait... and wait.. and hope it was filled out correctly or not missing anything like a check mark a document that should have been uploaded.  insurance can take 3=6 months or up to a year to approve providers to be on panels.  I am learning alot, and have a friend whos helping me between her own work.  I have so many supportive people in my life that i am thankful for!!! 

Peace in Colorful Dynamics LLC

Welcome followers! Im so happy to announce I am opening my own clinic "Peace in Colorful Dynamics LLC" . It has always been a dream to have my own business (like my dad and brother). I have many hopes and dreams for this clinic. While i truly enjoyed being a part of the Catalpa family I am looking forward to extending my services to more individuals.

The clinic is located at:

1477 Kenwood Dr.

STE 200

Menasha WI 54952

I share a space with other independent therapists - this offers the opportunity to refer if I am not the best fit.  They also offer groups and a variety of specialities.

https://michaelnollcounseling.com/about/

https://www.amccounseling.com/

I will continue to offer :

Individual sessions or Family sessions - To accommodate social distancing I also offer Telehealth or video conferencing options.

New!

Children ages 10+, Teenagers, Adults, Elderly 

Payments:

I do not accept insurance at this time, however I am in communication with several companies to offer this payment option in the future.

Sliding scale is available for those with financial need / individual basis.

I will post pictures soon!

Independent - Peace in Colorful Dynamics

My big news! With covid and a slower schedule ( despite online teaching, and still doing telehealth with many clients), I have come to the realization that I need to take better care of myself post pandemic.   I am eating better, sleeping better, exercising and relaxing more, and as soon as my schedule increased with the telehealth it all went away!!!!!! I have always wanted to open my own clinic. My dad is a small business over, my brother was for a while before health issues become a problem, my grandpa and uncle had their own businesses.  I will be opening my own counseling / art therapy agency in menasha. I found a small group of other independent therapists who had extra space and are willing to network, refer and offer mentorship.  There is also a massage therapist in the same building! What better self care is having a massage therapist with good rates nearby?  Im totally excited and scared to start on my own, but I have a great feeling about this. This time I wont be under a different clinic, I will be my own boss, which means in charge of my own schedule, in charge of which clients I accept, and will only be able to yell at myself if I don't end up agreeing with one of my choices. I have a solid plan which I discussed with a financial advisor, i'm looking into marketing and advertising,I have sent letters to current families and made connections with other professionals in the area, I am very hopeful that this will be successful!  My online teaching will be helpful as supplemental income and I found two online therapy programs that i'm in the interview process for so that should help as well while i'm waiting for in person clients.  I am also becoming certified as a "life coach", it has always been an interest of mine so during this time i'm going for it.  Over all my business name "Peace in Colorful Dynamics" is back!  I had initially held this name while under the small start up in west allis and small clinic in  Green Bay, but this time its all me, not attached to anyone else.  I will miss my catalpa family, they have been wonderful!  I am ready to move forward, try new things, see children and adults and enjoy the learning experience as I go.

CHANGES changes everywhere

Hello!  These last few weeks of social distancing and fear have made me reevaluate my life.  As far as the online teaching- i was accepted into qkids and cambly kids!  so i am now an active english as second language tutor on Cambly - Cambly Kids, Itutor, and Qkids!  ( i also have italki and vipkid but they do not seem to book as well)

As far as other changes. I have realized that i need to take better care of me.  While i love where i work, the clients i see and the organization as a whole, this time of taking care of me and having a flexible schedule / being my own boss has shown me that is what i need.  I am currently back at 60 % or more of my client load and i have been too exhausted to continue working out much less walk the dogs or eat regularly like i have been. ( last time i walked the dog a neighbor yelled at me for them poo ing.  yes i always pick it up. it made me see that im more of a nervous wreck then i thought i was and i know worrying about my health in this time of covid isnt helping, and helping take care of everyone else for work isnt helping either, much less to be yelled at for something out of my control).  I have decided to make changes which i will officially announce in the upcoming months, and while i am scared i am also very excited!  i have a plan and hopefully third times the charm!

keeping busy

well its been a busy few weeks!  normally when im stressed i clean, but i really enjoy this, so between my actual work doing telehealth and video conferencing, i do this online teaching in the off hours. 

Here are the results from applying to other programs, because as much as i love cambly it does not make alot, and im not getting vipkid bookings so im going to hold off putting any availability there till summer when the kids are out of school.

Applied            Denied             Made it through application process            Denied              Accepted!

whales english      X
Qkids                                                              X(still going)
Italki                                                                                                                                                 X
Itutor                                                                                                                                                 X
Open english         X( but they will check back in 6 months)
Magic Ears                                                                                                           X

i think that was it....the process was interesting, it ranged from demo videos and interviews with robots to live interviews, demo sessions and trials with real life kids!

some things to know if you plan on doing multiple companies plus regular work on top of that:  make sure your computer can handle it!  i replaced / upgraded mine today. i can still use my old one for bare minimum stuff but i have now moved my work stuff over to the new computer.  i also got manycam! which is so cool, you can put a background behind your photo and edit your video feed! im still learning but its going to be an awesome addition. i have already recieved bookings for itutor and italki- one nice thing about italki is i can use that money to go back into italki for live spanish lessons!! my goal this year is to relearn my high school spanish and be able to use it.   if anyone knows how to transfer pc to mac, please help! mine keeps saying edge is open but its definitely not open!!!

fear

im struggling.  being a cancer survivor - of a blood cancer- even 10 years clear my immune system is not great and i worry all the time. yes the worry has gotten better, has decreased some over the years. but ive never seen anything like this, our bars are even shut down!!!!!!! Wisconsin doesnt close bars.... but everything is shutting down.  even work, mental health, is switching from face to face to other means of therapy.  i wanted a vacation but not in this way.  so im making a list of crafts and projects, getting more online teaching hours, signing up for a second / technically third program as im not getting bookings through vipkid.  i signed up for magic ears, and i might sign up for itutor italki or whales english ( used to be sprout).  i found a comprehensive chart to help compare all the programs if anyone would like to view it. you can google " i to i comprehensive online teaching comparison chart" or comment here and ill post it later.  keeping myself busy is the only way to keep me sane, along with my anxiety meds to not over think catching a germ every time i go out.  i did not hoard tp, but i did hoard chips and sour cream. ( i do use sour cream for other things like chili not just chips, and making dip or dipping it alone. mmm)  how are you being productive during this time? any tips to help me work through my struggling?  im trying hard to be brave and strong for clients, but i am giving myself this few days to freak out while i dont have any calls to make.

cambly excitement!

ok! time to talk about Cambly  , because its been along week and it makes me smile.

So, online teaching- subject english as a second language, whaaaaat?

tools needed:
  a strong wifi connection - or an ethernet cord to plug from router to computer ( they have ethernet adapters to plug in usb)
   
computer - laptop in camblys case with a chrome browser
bright lighting - i use a ring light from amazon - excuse the tired ness!
internal or external webcam- i started with my computers internal but i just upgraded to a logi external and holy brightness batman! the difference is amazing. this plus the ring is wonderful!

headset with mic - noise cancelling, i am using a inexpensive basic one from walmart but will be upgrading to a wireless headset soon.

usb adapter is helpful if your computer is like mine with only one usb port.  i can plug my headset, light, webcam, ethernet adapter, (or replace the headset with an outside mouse if i dont want to use my touch pad as my webcam has good speakers / mic built in)

i have technology now what??

- first  - cambly does NOT require bachelors or tesol / teaching certificate ( but its good to have- groupon tesol)

- cambly requires paypal for payment - find paypal, its easy to set up, you get paid every monday as long as you have the minimum of 20$ in your account. ( approx two hours or 120 minutes of talk time)

this is the one con, is that the  pay is not great, but it is supplemental pay for me and i enjoy it so that makes up for me! - .17 c a minute- approx 5.20 for 30 minutes or 10.20 for 60 minutes. it goes by minutes so you could log in at any time and get 4 minutes here, 20 minutes there, 45 minutes here, 30 minutes there. depends on whos calling and the time you are logging in, well get to that.

after you have paypal, if you want my referral link: https://www.cambly.com/en/tutors?referralCode=sammi94  - open it in a web browser, on a computer not a mobile device.  you will fill out your tutor / student profile , answer some basic questions and do an intro video.  the website is a little confusing first, you want to make sure you are on a tutor profile and not student.   they will email you when you have been accepted and can start calling in! ( for me it took three days, but ive heard of some people where it took three weeks / months)

( while you have my referral code - i will get 20$ after you sign up, have been accepted and completed 10 priority hours worth of talking, nothing sooner, and i would need a heads up to contact them about it - its a bit of a process - one of the few cons)



youve been accepted!!!! now what???

read the tutor guide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i can not stress this enough. it covers everything, they have an extensive question and answer area on allllllll items.


if you want to update your video- you can check out other tutors profile videos or even go on youtube, or ask me questions, id be happy to help mentor!  most importantly be yourself in it. make sure your bio is "real" - students will search bios to find one they feel is a good fit and after soooo many classes you go from " new talent" to having a rating. up to 5.0. i have seen people as low as 4.7 but there may be lower, and up to 4.9.  the more chats you get the more ratings youll have, im at a steady 4.82 with almost 700 chats, have met just under 600 students ( in over 30 countries, its awesome)

you can either go " visible" or pick up "priority hours", ph means you have to be available to answer each call - they put you closer to the top of the list to have a better chance of getting students to call - could be students who are already used to cambly or brand new trial students - they do ads all over the world on youtube. going visible means youll be around others of the same rating , in the beginning you are listed as " new talent" with no rating to give you a fair chance at getting callers. some students are very particular about tutors based on rating, and others go off profile, or if they like your accent.

on your profile you can choose beginner, intermediate, advanced, ( students dont always look at that part but for the few who do its good to have )  what you specialize in- grammar / business english / conversation / current news/  exam prep / etc ( ielts or toefl are popular for foreign students wanting to come to school in america) - i highly recommend you find a " tesol" class - groupon has a 19$ deal that is good. gives you the basics on teaching english as second language and if you want to join other esl teaching online platforms you will need one ( vipkid, dadaabc, magic ears, etc)

once you have been accepted and you feel your profile is good to go  you can go  visible or take up priority hours!  priority hours - you will be at the top of the list for accepting any and all calls - from trials to people with subscriptions. people may laugh or expect you to be a robot or flash you, some people may not say anything , beginners tend to be very shy and many people have low confidence when they start due to negative experiences trying english in real life.  - have flashcards for beginners and i reccomend engoo.com articles for others!  cambly also has a library filled with resources.

to start you will be a "new talent" rating- this is until you reach 500 or so chats and then an offical rating up to 5.0 kicks in.  after this if you go invisible you will be in line where your rating lies - mines a 4.82 which is ok, not great but not bad.  i seem to get enough calls during visible time and ph time along with reservations that i am pleased where i am, but i strive for better!

you can edit your bio video or bio at any time. i find it helps to talk to the students and not at the students. make your profile " conversational".  one nice thing about cambly is you can switch between " tutor" page and "student " page - and when you start cambly gives you 20 -25 minutes to use with another tutor! this way you can see what the student side of the platform looks like to help out students when they are confused and ask more experienced tutors how they teach " lessons" or talk to students in general.  you can look at different profiles under the student page and see the different videos and descriptions to help with altering any of your own profiles. 

i cant say how much i enjoy cambly, and as i write this now i am fully aware of how many lower case i's i have and lowercase beginning sentences, however i am tired and it has been a long week so please forgive me!  i have met many wonderful people on cambly from over 30 / 40 countries!! i hear about people wanting to receive job promotions, make life better for families, wanting to travel, needing to practice English for speaking at conferences  ( i meet other psychologists and therapists all over the world) professors, IT / software , engineers, everything!   its so wonderful to be apart of their journey and help them practice English through conversation or simple lessons - practice reading out loud / correcting English, rewording sentences, preparing for interviews, using random question generators, anything!  any questions feel free to comment :)

Low immune systems suck

So, between chemo brain (yes it is real, and can be long lasting even ten years out) and low immune system and chronic fatigue ,  some days are just a battle.  Called in sick for work twice this week for feeling total crap, which, even though it wasn’t nausea or diarrhea , the coughing and flem  that came up and body cramps was bad enough, not to mention hot and cold sweats. Omg and yes I realize... tmi tmi. But I tell yea chemo definitely changed how things work. Never had a good immune system before but this new acid reflux I could have lived fine without.  Also So thankful my part time job /online teaching is flexible, I had no reservations so I was able to cancel my availability and take the time to relax, and know that if I felt better I could easily call in and make some money to help me through payday.( cambly doesn’t pay a lot, but a little is better then nothing.  I enjoy it, I meet so many awesome people around the world that it’s a great pick me up if nothing else).  This weekend  I’m doing the same, catching up on sleep and tea and soup, and maybe Sunday see how I feel and open up the line.  I have a few amazing regulars who would love to call in if I’m feeling up to it, but while I’m coughing I’m no help :(. One nice thing about cambly, making friends all over the world from home and helping others on their journeys to better living.  Have met students in university for technology, engineering, medical field, psychology field, people who want promotions and need improved English to help their families live better,  people in retirement looking to travel, therapists who want to discuss different techniques and strategies (a Korean therapist called in one night at 2 am saying she had been waiting to talk to me all day and just got out of session in time.  We had a very pleasant talk!). I’ve even been inspired by a new Turkish friend to try new books and watch new movies!we discussed parasite and the art therapist character, had a good talk about other characters and discussed the movie horse girl-Quite interesting.  If anyone has questions about online teaching feel free to comment! I’ll post  specifically about them to answer questions sometime. Maybe do a review soon comparing the two English teaching companies I work with.

Well, I read through my past posts, and even though part of me remembers writing them I really don’t remember writing them.  Not sure whether it’s embarrassing, scary or if I should just blame it on trauma and catching up.

Anyway, since starting up on this again I have started teaching English as a foreign language online.  I am sick of debt, I have credit debt from trying to start over, and then my home flooding and appliances breaking down, on top of initial credit debt from back in the day starting to build credit and not realizing how quick it adds up, and student loan debt, and mortgage and car, and paying parents back for helping me, anyway I feel like I’m in debt up to my ears.  So second job it is! I technically work with VIPkid, but I don’t get many bookings if any, so I started a second platform called “cambly”. Omg it’s awesome! I will gladly do more blogs on  them,  because I truly enjoy it so much.  There are pros and cons to both but the point is I’m making extra payments to my credit debt, and I’m not struggling as much between paychecks.  (I make a decent amount but I have so much debt that it cancels itself out so I live paycheck to paycheck just trying to hit all my minimum payments.). So cambly has been amazing, I get paid to have a conversation and help people practice English from all over the world!!! The pay is not awesome, but it is weekly so it’s dependable as long as I put a bit of effort in each week.   This weekend I totally took a break and slept, because I can feel a cold coming in and needed it.  Worked a few hours today though so I still get paid tomorrow! (Enough to get gas and still put aside some for taxes- I’m an independent contractor paid by these platforms so they don’t remove taxes, I need to remove it in case I make enough that they request me to pay taxes either quarterly or at tax time. I can blog about that to separately). My favorite part is I’m in charge of my availability in the schedule, and if I have no reservations I can close out my availability and give myself off.    Best of all, is my two year plan to pay off debt (I’m also getting a bonus from work that will give me a head start), so far seems to be working just from these last few months of extra work on nights and weekends. It’s so nice to see a light at the end of the debt tunnel, even if it is still very smalllll. I see the sparkle.