(c) Can Stock Photo

A simple practice-building skill that many private practice therapists overlook is to ASK directly for new clients referrals. Some shrinks assume that if they’re skilled clinically colleagues, clients, and acquaintances will automatically refer clients to them. While that may be true for some therapists, in my consulting experience, building a thriving private practice takes conscious effort and deliberate action.

Asking for referrals is important so you are on the “top of mind” for your referrals sources. Potential referral sources may assume that you’re too busy, that you’re not taking new clients, they don’t remember your name or contact information, or it just didn’t occur to them to refer a client to you.

(c) Can Stock Photo

Several months ago I wrote a post titled, “Why I Broke Up With Managed Care” that stirred up some passionate discussion! While I understand that it’s not the route for every private practitioner, I have continued to build a private practice free of managed care and recently hired my 12th therapist.

While we don’t bill insurance directly, we do give a superbill to clients so they can seek reimbursement from their health insurance so they can still use their benefits. As I’ve continued to write this blog, I’ve come across several therapists who have also “broke up” with managed care and asked them why they decided to build a fee-for-service therapy practice. Here’s what they had to say:

Incoming links to your site can help boost search engine rankings and act as a “vote of confidence” which increases traffic and brings in new clients to your therapy practice.

Here’s quick way to find out which sites are linking to your website:

1. Go to Alexa.com
2. Type in your private practice website domain
3. Look at the number next to “sites linking in”
4. Click on the actual number to find out which sites link to your website

Thanks to Rhett Smith, LMFT of Auxano Counseling in Plano, Texas for submitting this fun virtual office tour. I am definitely stealing the idea to mount Lexan plastic on the wall for genograms and illustrations – brilliant! Also, love the symbolic tree painting and that chunky rug. Very clean, light and inviting office space.

Find out more about Rhett Smith’s therapy practice at rhettsmithcounseling.com

If you’re interested in submitting a YouTube virtual office tour video get details here.

Pam Dyson, LPC, RPT

“I provide practical solutions to child behavior problems,” says Pam Dyson, LPC, RPT of St. Louis. What parent couldn’t use some practical solutions?

As a child development expert, parenting coach, licensed professional counselor and registered play therapist, Dyson is clear about her mission to help children and families through play therapy and parent coaching. Learn more about Dyson’s private practice journey, how she manages the ebb and flow of income impacted by the school year sessions, and how play plays a role in her own self-care.

Why did you decide to open a private practice?

I entered graduate school in mid-life with the goal of opening a private practice. Having been an early childhood educator for many years I knew there was a need in my geographic area for a therapist specializing in working with children 3-10 years of age.

I knew how to reach my target audience and I knew there was a market for additional specialized services such as consulting and coaching.  I also wanted the freedom to set my own hours. I knew that only by having my own practice would I be able to achieve all of those goals.

Misty Vogel, MA, NCC

A ten year career in the mortgage banking industry not only prepared Misty Vogel, M.A., NCC for many of the business aspects of self-employment, but also for managing the intense emotions that come with major life transitions.

Helping clients buy homes seems far from providing therapy, but the process of helping mortgage clients navigate intense emotions that surface during home purchasing has been added to Vogel’s therapeutic skill set.

Fresh out of graduate school, Vogel is just starting to build her practice in Denver and in Evergreen while she continues to work as an extern at Evergreen Psychotherapy Center, a practice specializing in treatment of attachment disordered children and families.

In her private practice, Vogel combines her experience doing attachment work with her passion to help children and families navigate the difficulties of divorce and custody issues. Vogel’s own parents divorced when she was 5 so she knows first-hand the impact divorce can have on the entire family. Peek into a day in the life of a therapist just beginning to build her private practice and see what it takes!

South By Southwest Festival is legendary in the music, film, and technology worlds. I’ve always wanted to go, but this year I’m actually going to make the trek to Austin, TX to present on an interactive health panel! PsychCentral’s CEO and founder Dr. John Grohol, a pioneer in online counseling, invited me to participate on a panel called “Online Therapy…Naked?”

Yes, you read that right…n a k e d. An unlicensed NY woman (with a BS in Psychology) and founder of “Naked Therapy” who claims to be providing “therapy” online to “patients” while getting naked (and aroused) will be on the panel. Also, weighing in on the discussion will be LICENSED professional counselor Audrey Jung, LPC who provides legitimate online counseling services.

Do therapists really need to care about search engine optimization (SEO)? If you’re in private practice the answer is YES!

So, what is SEO? SEO is the process of improving your website’s visibility in search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo, etc.

Before you starting thinking about SEO, you first need a practice website. Even a single page site with your photo, practice description and contact information is better than nothing! I predict that in the near future it will be nearly impossible to build a successful private practice with clients who pay your full fee unless you have a website and strong professional online presence. If you don’t have a website, stop reading here, and get busy creating a site. If you already have a site and you want to make it easier for potential clients to find your practice on the web, read on!

I felt calmer just watching this office tour by Ashley Eder, LPC. Ashley does a great job conveying a serene setting and amazing mountain view. Angel, Ashley’s therapy dog makes an appearance in this video too. Watch for the darling accent pillow on the therapy couch. I want those. Thank you Ashley for sharing your office with us.

To find out more about Ashley’s practice visit www.ashleyeder.com

If you’re interested in submitting a YouTube virtual office tour video get details here.