Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelley Rorvick.
Hi Shelley, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Wow, my story feels like a long journey with lots of winding roads, but ultimately, I always knew that I wanted to be in a helping profession. From the time I was 9, I decided to be a cardiovascular surgeon, so everything was geared towards the medical field, from early jobs to being pre-med in college. Eventually, I decided not to go on to med school because I wanted to have a full life that gave me more options and space to travel, but didn’t know exactly what that meant. Through my work at a local hospital, I moved from the medical into behavioral health, giving me my first experiences with direct care for people in mental health crises. Working on the adolescent unit led to a better understanding of the need for more systemic and holistic therapeutic services since we would help stabilize the kids and then send them back into the same environments. I also went through my own personal journey through my involvement in Al-Anon, a 12-step program for family and friends of alcoholics. Practicing my program was a catalyst for deep healing and transformation. Those experiences, along with living abroad in Ecuador at various times over the years, led to choosing Marriage and Family Therapy for my Master’s Degree upon returning to the U.S. many years after that hospital job.
While I was in school, I started learning more about relational therapy. At one point, I chose to interview a sex therapist for an assignment for one of my classes. I’ve always felt comfortable talking about sex, living a life outside of the mainstream and being open about my queerness. I recognized a desire to help couples in this very specialized way.
After graduating from St. Mary’s University in the Twin Cities, I returned to Duluth, where I had graduated so many years prior for undergrad. Through a recommendation, I started working as a clinician at the Minnesota Sex Offender Program. That was my first position working specifically around issues related to sex although that is definitely not how I had envisioned things for myself. While I never expected to work with perpetrators of sexual harm and abuse, I learned so much from the experience. I moved into the outpatient world, and overall for about 10 years, worked specifically in the treatment of people who committed sexual offenses. This work frequently brought me into learning more about trauma as well as specific sexual issues, broadening my sexual knowledge and interest to learn more.
Due to some unfortunate circumstances, a job ended, which left me in a place of wanting to continue the expanding work I did in the sexual realm, but not having a place to do it. A colleague with an entrepreneurial streak talked me into opening a group practice with her and another colleague, once again with a treatment focus. She had enough confidence for the both of us! I was reticent too because I had never wanted to own a business, to be my own boss. However, I knew I had the experience and knowledge, and that together, we could create something our community needed. That also gave me the chance to return to my previous dream of being a sex therapist while balancing the treatment aspect. I also learned so many of the business ins and outs of owning a private practice.
Eventually, I went out on my own, to create my own vision fully. As a part of following my passion of helping couples in unique ways, I began to learn more and more about different relationship structures and alternative sexual lifestyles; I delved into nonmonogamy and kink as part of my education. So now, here I am with a private practice, recently rebranded from Shelley Rorvick LLC to IGNITE Therapeutic Services. As a part of this change, I have a more focused niche, and moved to a larger space to accommodate having an intern as I grow my practice!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
First, I want to say I am VERY grateful for all that I’ve experienced! For many years, things went pretty smoothly in becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). I feel lucky that working in residential settings that fit into my interests also helped me get my licensing hours completed quicker than is frequently the case for marriage and family therapists.
The ups and downs came more in working in various environments and then learning the sometimes painful lessons that came along with that. Finding the extra time, outside of life and professional responsibilities and priorities, for the coursework I’ve needed to become a sex therapist has made this road one that is longer than I anticipated. Thankfully I learned long ago that the only one creating a timeline is me. That changes as I go, and it definitely makes life that much more interesting!
Another challenge has been finding where my specialized skills fit in and in finding my voice. I’d never wanted to be an entrepreneur; I never wanted to own my own business, and so the fact that I’m on business number two is something unexpected. But it came out of necessity, and wonderfully so, though I didn’t always recognize that at the time! It has definitely been a big learning curve going into business with others and navigating different visions and then taking on all of the business and therapy aspects myself without others to rely on. I continue learning as I go, the forever student!
As you know, we’re big fans of Ignite Therapeutic Services. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
IGNITE Therapeutic Services really does have a unique niche within Minnesota as a whole and even more so in the Northland, serving specific populations with specific needs. First of all, we offer sex therapy. People don’t always realize what this means. It is not anything hands-on, but instead talk-based therapy for people struggling with sexual dysfunction or relational sexual issues. Frequently, this includes providing up-to-date and inclusive sexual education. It may also be about introducing new and different exciting ways to connect sexually!
While we offer therapy at IGNITE Therapeutic Services, what sets us apart from other places as well is our focus on folks who are part of the queer and/or trans communities as well as kinky folks and those with nontraditional relationship structures. Our clients appreciate that we “get it” on a deeper level as we are part of these communities ourselves. They don’t have to explain the language they are using or worry about being judged or that things are going to be taken out of context. We help them come into sexual well-being and overall wellness!
Another part of IGNITE that I’m very excited about is being able to continue to focus on the prevention of sexual assault and abuse through our FUEGOS program. This is where my love of language and culture heavily intersects with my professional career. We are one of only two programs in the state of Minnesota that offers treatment in Spanish for native Spanish speakers who have committed sexual offenses. Additionally, we offer psychosexual evaluations, generally court-ordered, once again specifically for native Spanish speakers. This attention to not only the language, but also to cultural aspects and needs, makes us stand out from programs and evaluators that use translators, thereby using best practices to keep our communities safer.
I think the thing that I’m most proud of brand-wise is creating the brand itself! IGNITE Therapeutic Services was originally just my name, so getting to a place of being able to take time within myself and really sit with my vision led me to IGNITE. It really spoke to me of starting to ideally reignite or ignite the flame and the fire that people have had or are looking for, I have gone through my own struggles where I felt that my light went out, and so this also spoke to my own transformation and how I wanted to support others in theirs. As part of this, I love that we can be creative in how we offer services, choosing to do what feels right for the client, like offering long sessions that allow people to dig in and move through things in sometimes more helpful ways. We’ve also offered groups here and there, including services for communities of folks that tend to be marginalized and/or shamed. We specialize in relational therapy for couples, throuples, and/or polycules, and individual therapy and family therapy specifically for people outside of the mainstream.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
For those starting out as therapists, it’s a process to find the balance of your education, who you are as an individual, and how you show up in the therapy room. I encourage you to find out what your passions are, who you like working with, and what the issues are that you like working on in order to stay engaged! For me, my own interests blend the personal and professional to a certain extent. Tap into the communities that are out there to help you grow! Others can help you learn the business side of things. My motto is that there are plenty of others that have learned this, so why can’t I? That has served me throughout my life, leading to fun-filled adventures! And now I look forward to the experiences to come with openness for continual learning and growth!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ignitetherapeutic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ignitetherapeuticservices/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ignitetherapeutic/
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/ignitetherapeutic.bsky.social
