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The last few years have been an emotional rollercoaster. Illness, inflation, global chaos and political turmoil are a nonstop barrage on the senses. To combat this, many folks are reaching out to local mental health providers for treatment. But there is a shortage of professional care nationwide, which makes finding help more complicated than it used to be. Thankfully, The Practice NW in Lacey is here to help.

woman sitting at a table with a laptop
The Practice NW is a shared workspace in Lacey available for mental and behavioral health professionals. Photo courtesy: The Practice NW

A 2022 study by the American Psychological Association found that, “Six in 10 practitioners reported that they no longer have openings for new patients, nearly half (46%) said they have been unable to meet the demand for treatment and nearly three-quarters (72%) have longer waitlists than before the pandemic.” The Practice NW bridges barriers to treatment by providing mental health professionals a place to serve clients without the financial stress of building and maintaining a physical clinic.

Shared Space for Mental Health Professionals in Lacey

Sharon Shadwell, LMHC, and her spouse Matt Horner, MA, co-founded The Practice NW and opened their doors in November 2022 with a goal of making all spaces “healing-centered in design.” Their office welcomes mental health and wellness practitioners of all kinds. “We hope to offer something of value for everyone, whether new to the field or well-established,” says Shadwell.

There are 10 offices. One is simply furnished with a desk, monitor, task chair and guest chairs. The others include a couch, armchairs and side tables. Four are equipped for play therapy with sand trays and miniatures, furnished doll houses, dolls, therapeutic children’s books, dry erase board and art therapy supplies. All dolls and mini figures were purposefully selected to represent the diversity of therapists, children and families who will use the space.

kitchen at The NW Practice
Equipped with amenities like a kitchenette, conference room, client waiting room, and more, it can be rented on an as-needed basis to see patients. Photo courtesy: The Practice NW

The site also offers a fully stocked kitchenette, restrooms, conference room, office supply room, client waiting area and private wellness room for lactating parents or sensory regulation.

Healing-Centered Design for Clients and Families

At The Practice NW, every design choice was made mindfully. Thoughtful consideration has been given to each client’s varied needs. For example, says Shadwell, fluorescent ceiling lights have been covered with light-diffusing panels, and each office comes with floor and table lamps for a softer glow. All spaces are scent-free, and a sound-masking system is capable of playing white noise or peaceful music throughout.

Natural materials and muted colors are used wherever possible, and greenery abounds. The coworking space looks out onto Huntamer Park, and the offices and coworking space all have windows with views of trees. “We have plants throughout the space to bring the healing power of nature indoors,” says Shadwell. “We are eager for ongoing feedback from clients about what else we can do to ensure that the space is comfortable for members and clients with diverse sensory preferences and needs.”

sensory room at The Practice NW
The Practice NW even has a sensory wellness room for nursing moms or combatting sensory overload. Photo courtesy: The Practice NW

For accessibility, they’re ideally located one block from the Lacey Transit Center and less than a mile from I-5 with plenty of parking. Guests are kept safe thanks to the building’s security guard, remote access locking systems on the doors and unique fob or phone app access to each of the offices.

Co-Working Towards a Healthy Tomorrow

Shadwell says their co-working model is becoming increasingly popular in other industries as people have shifted to remote work but are longing for access to social connection in a way that is flexible and responsive to their needs. “We see the potential of an expanded model that provides the benefits of co-working or shared workspaces combined with the resources that mental health professionals access through agency employment but often struggle to find when in private practice,” she adds.

A sense of professional community complements flexible access to offices and business services including virtual mail management, referral support, credentialing and insurance billing resources. At The Practice NW, practitioners can even reserve space on a fixed-use basis, reserving the same room on a regular day and time schedule. “Consistency and predictability are important to increase the sense of safety and comfortability while also reducing the amount of mental and emotional energy that goes into settling into a space, even at an unconscious level,” says Shadwell.

fully furnished room at The Practice NW
There are 10 offices furnished with natural, soothing materials, soft lights, and care given to patient needs. Photo courtesy: The Practice NW

Outside of sessions, the team hosts monthly events like human-centered practice presentations, professional networking, policy and advocacy roundtables, book and movie clubs, and peer consultation groups.

Caring for our Caregivers

Shadwell truly believes The Practice NW will allow professionals to thrive. The team deeply values the expertise of the community of behavioral health professionals in our region, she says. “We hope to serve as a facilitator of opportunities for these folks to share their knowledge.”

“Other businesses provide sublease options, and a sense of community can develop within the context of using the same physical space,” says Shadwell, “however, we are prioritizing nurturing the nurturers as much as we are prioritizing provision of physical space. We are actively working to create community that is comfortable and beneficial for mental health professionals by offering both social events that support relationship building and networking and also trainings focused on business and clinical learning opportunities. Folks who would be most interested in membership are likely those who would value the supportive community we are working to create.”

a mental health professional talking with someone
Co-working allows both new and emerging professionals to treat patients without the financial constraints of running a brick-and-mortar office. Photo courtesy: The Practice NW

“We are also offering the most flexible arrangement for providers who are newly starting a private practice and/or offering part-time in-person services,” Shadwell continues, “And we have invested in the quality of the space, from the furniture we have selected to the tea and coffee we provide.”

To learn more about office rental, submit the online contact form or email questions to info@thepracticenw.com. The team will answer questions and schedule a tour at your convenience. Follow them on Facebook for updates and start the next phase of your practice today at The Practice NW.

The Practice NW

4405 7th Avenue, STE 200, Lacey

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