It was our pleasure to sit down with Dr. Courtney Compagnone of Clear View Counseling Center and learn more about her and her company. The Clear View Counseling Center is a group practice comprised of psychologists and clinical social-workers dedicated to providing quality, affordable mental health care to the Annapolis community. They provide individual psychotherapy, couples’ therapy, family therapy and group therapy to children, adolescents, and adults struggling with a myriad of symptoms and disorders. They also provide specialized treatment for trauma disorders and anxiety disorders.
Dr. Compagnone is one of the lucky few who always knew what they wanted to be when they grow up. She finished college and started her doctoral program 3 months later. Although she knew she wanted to be a psychologist, she didn’t choose a specialty until her second year in grad school. She landed a coveted internship at McLean Hospital, Harvard University’s psychiatric teaching hospital, where she got her first experience treating complex trauma. She recalls, “this is where I fell in love with helping those afflicted by trauma disorders.”
From there, she completed her residency in rural trauma in Kentucky and then landed a post-doctoral fellowship at the Trauma Disorders Program at Sheppard Pratt, which is how she ended up in Maryland. “I fell in love with Annapolis instantly, and saw a need for affordable, quality care in this community that was going unmet. There are many quality mental health providers here in Annapolis. But there are fewer quality mental health providers here who take insurance. Those who do, are in high demand. So, I set out to grow the practice to continue to serve the community I love and now call home.” They now have five mental health clinicians and are planning to continue their growth into 2019.
Dr. Compagnone believes the best outcomes for patients are positively correlated with the happiness and well-being of the therapist with whom they are working. With that in mind, she structured the business model of the Clear View Counseling Center to maximize clinician satisfaction. All of the therapists at the Clear View Counseling Center are encouraged to have a healthy work/life balance and to regularly practice self-care. Her therapists are encouraged to set their own hours and take mental health days regularly. The reason behind this philosophy is simple; “I want my clinicians to be happy here. Mental health providers are not interchangeable. When a therapist leaves a practice, it affects dozens of patients with whom they have formed a bond and established trust. As the Clear View Counseling Center continues to grow, I am dedicated to maintaining the small-practice vibe to ensure each patient continues to receive the personalized attention they deserve.”
It’s exciting to see the growth in Clear View Counseling Center and the benefits they provide the Annapolis community. In five years, they plan to provide the same quality, evidence-based mental health care that they do now while also continuing to grow the practice in order to greater serve the community. However, their goal is to grow slowly and sustainably to control for quality of care. They plan to hire on at least one psychiatrist who will provide medication management to their patients. In 2019, they will be offering DBT group therapy and wellness workshops based on Brene Brown’s Daring Way and Rising Strong models. Long term, she is working on her yoga instructor certification in order to lead Trauma Informed Yoga classes for veterans and civilians with PTSD.
It’s not all work for Dr. Compagnone. She grew up on a ranch in north-central Florida and lived all over the country in her 20’s. Aside from Florida and Maryland, she lived in Las Vegas, Vail, Boston, and Hazard, Kentucky (yes, as in, “The Dukes of”). She graduated from the University of Florida and is a die-hard Gator football fan. “I’ve been to every SEC stadium with the exception of the University of Georgia (yuck!) because we play on neutral territory every year and attended all but one National Championship Game (because I was only 11 at the time).”
As a native Floridian, she loves being on the water. During the summer, in her spare time, you can find her boating, paddle boarding, or by the pool. She practices yoga every day and likes to run and hike with her dogs. She is also a pretty good cook. “I love finding and trying new recipes online and making meals from scratch.”
She has two amazing nephews who keep her young (and tired!), two rescue hounds, and two rescue kittens who are special needs. One is an amputee and the other is partially deaf due to frost bite (before she got him, of course).
We asked Dr. Compagnone how she has become such a successful woman. “I am a strong and confident woman with a deep social conscience. But I wasn’t always as self-assured as I am today. I realize that as a woman, learning to love yourself and believe in yourself is not always easy. The world may not always reinforce your intrinsic worth. I am passionate about empowering women and young girls to empower themselves in our society. As a woman, being assertive is not always easy but it is often necessary. It is truly a thing of beauty to witness the personal growth and building of self-confidence in young women.”
We are lucky to have Clear View Counseling as one of our members. When asked why she chose My Annapolis Office, “when I first toured My Annapolis Office, I was impressed by the aesthetic and decor of the lobby and common areas. First impressions are important to any business, and mental health is no different. My Annapolis Office fit all my business needs: ample free parking, easily accessible location and plenty of space and amenities.”
To learn more about Dr. Courtney Compagnone and their providers; visit their website. You can also follow Dr. Compagnone on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
