Show Notes
Yolanda von Hockauf is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist in Vancouver, BC. She has built a child, couple and family therapy clinic called the Vancouver Couple and Family Therapy Institute (VCFI) with her business partner, Dr. Veronica Kallos-Lilly. In the interview, Yolanda describes how they built this clinic with 10 associates.
Yolanda was a therapist in Dr. Sue Johnson’s (developer of Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT)) first research study of couples therapy in the 1980’s. She has been practicing EFT since these early days. Yolanda and Veronica were also early trainers in EFT. VCFI offers workshops in the EFT model for couples. Yolanda and Veronica also train therapists in EFT in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
Interview Highlights
[2:47] Yolanda shares her story about how she became a therapist when she was quite young.
[7:00] Yolanda describes how she met Dr. Sue Johnson, the developer of (EFT), in the early 1980’s at a counselling organization she worked at. Dr. Johnson was doing her first research study in emotionally focused couples therapy and Yolanda became involved in this research.
[10:34] Yolanda explains that she started her first private practice in her late twenties.
[12:28] Yolanda shares the journey of starting a joint counselling practice in 2005 with Dr. Verconica Kallos-Lilly. Dr. Sue Johnson had introduced the two of them several years previously. Yolanda tells how they built their EFT center modeled after the one Dr. Johnson started in Ottawa.
[13:18] Yolanda describes the therapy work of the VCFI clinic where they have 10 associates. In addition to their EFT couples therapy services, they work with children and their parents offering assessments and play therapy. In addition, they have a program for infants and toddlers called, “Circle of Security.” They also offer individual therapy with adults (Yolanda has a specialty in EFT for individuals).
17:45 Yolanda discusses the “Hold Me Tight” workshops VCFI offers for couples in Vancouver, BC. She states that she is doing a Hold Me Tight workshop for therapists and their partners in January 2017.
[20:42] Yolanda discusses the EFT Training she and Veronica offer around the world. Their trainings provide certification in EFT. They also do workshops on special applications of EFT. For example, EFT with individuals, EFT with couples who have experienced trauma, EFT for therapists regarding their attachment issues.
[24:45] Yolanda states that she found the responsibilities of starting the VCFI clinic challenging.
[26:00] Yolanda describes the business structure they use with their associates. Associates pay a percentage of overhead expenses.
[29:00] Yolanda describes how she and Veronica built VCFI. They started with contacts they already had. They have primarily built the business through marketing to doctors and offering free talks to the public.
[34:36] Yolanda states that her biggest challenge with VCFI is managing growth while being flexible with their policies and procedures.
[36:40] Yolanda states that being a natural leader and loving her work have been key factors in her success. She also stated that taking risks and staying connected to the international EFT community through the organization, www.ICEEFT.com, has helped VCFI become successful.
Yolanda says that she and Veronica are good partners and have a great bond. They almost always agree philosophically. Even though their personalities are different, they balance each other out. She explains how they offered EFT workshops together for a few years before they started VCFI.
[41:11] Yolanda’s advice to other therapists building a practice: Make sure you form networks and connections. Join events where you will meet other therapists and talk about your work everywhere. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Find something that you are passion about and good at, and develop a niche so that you get known for something.
Bio – Registered Marriage and Family Therapist, Yolanda von Hockauf – Vancouver, BC
Yolanda von Hockauf is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapist and a founding director of the Vancouver Couple & Family Institute (VCFI) in Vancouver, B.C. The institute has gained a reputation of excellence in the therapeutic community among physicians, other therapists and the general public. A therapist in the original research study on Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) in 1983, Yolanda has been using this approach since it was established. Her skills as a Certified EFT Therapist are widely sought.
Yolanda has been a consultant and trainer to other psychotherapists since 1991 and frequently travels internationally to teach. She is an American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) Approved Supervisor and a Certified Trainer in Emotionally Focused Therapy – the most well-researched and proven approach to relationship distress.
As a senior therapist and mentor to other counselors, she has trained over 1000 therapists in six countries around the world. She has a passion for helping therapists grow in their skills, confidence and self-awareness. Her clarity of style and engaging manner make her training an exceptional experience for beginning and advanced therapists alike. You can find out more about the Vancouver Couple & Family Institute (VCFI) at www.vcfi.ca
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