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Pin A Quote is a quick and fun way to create a graphic out of your favorite quotes. It allows you to highlight any text and with the click of a button, turn it into a shareable graphic that is automatically links to the site where you found the text. Though it’s designed to interface with Pinterest, you don’t have to have a Pinterest account to use Pin A Quote.

Once you’ve selected the quote and created your graphic, Pin A Quote creates a custom URL for that specific quote that you can share on Facebook, Twitter, or other social media sites, and of course, Pinterest.

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

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!

The physical “space” you work  in says a lot about you. Does your office space appeal to your ideal client? Does it speak about your tastes and preferences? Would you be willing to give other shrinks a tour of your office? Why or why not?

Every time a new client comes into my office they comment on my denim couch. It feels cozy and casual, which is how I want my clients to feel when they’re in my office. The color scheme of the office decor coincides with our logo and website colors…and that’s no accident.

I thought it would be fun to peek into the offices of private practitioners to share ideas and get inspiration. So, if you’re willing to let the world (or the readers of this blog) see YOUR office space follow these simple steps by Feb. 29th, 2012.

Do you have a Twitter account for your practice but you’re not sure how to get more followers? Do you feel like your tweeting into thin air and no one is “listening”?

Here are a few tricks I’ve learned that have help me grow my Twitter following and promote your private mental health practice online and build your professional identity.

1) Search and follow

Use the search box at the right top of your Twitter homepage to search your specialty areas and interests. Follow people who are tweeting helpful and relevant info relating to your practice areas and let them know that you like what they’re sharing online.

Call it group therapy for therapists. Connect with other like-mined therapists in my closed Facebook group and share resources, ideas, practice building tools, successes and failures. Must be a licensed mental health therapist or therapist in training be added to the group.

Click here and request to join the Private Practice Toolbox Facebook group

I’ve been researching webinar platforms lately and trying to find the time and muster up the courage to host my first webinar. Until then, check out these excellent, and free website building and social media webinars. I’ve personally attended webinars from both presenters listed below so I can vouch for the quality and relevance of their presentations. Maybe one day you’ll sign up for one of my practice building webinars, but until then, put these on your calendar!

Jan. 11 “The Facebook Divide” with Laura Roeder

Social media marketing maven, Laura Roeder is offering a free Facebook webinar about the new Facebook changes, how to separate your personal and professional life on Facebook once and for all, and how to build your business (or your practice). I love Laura’s down-to-earth style and her gift for simplifying aspects of social media that overwhelm most people. She’s funny, practical, and endearing. Though this webinar is geared for any small business owner, and if you are in private practice you are a business owner.
Wednesday, January 11th at 1PM pst / 4PM est
Register by clicking here.

As therapists we ‘re skilled at talking about what we do (“I’m a play therapist who works with children”, or “I help older adults improve their mental health”), and how we do it (“I use DBT, EMDR, and CBT” or “I help clients work through resistance to change through psychodynamic therapy”), but we don’t often talk clearly about why we do what we do.

I was recently introduced to this video by author, business guru, and optimist Simon Sinek a few months ago and found it to be incredibly inspiring and clarifying. It reaffirms that ” why” is crucial to personal and business success. I wanted to share it with you as we begin 2012 to help you clarify your practice vision for the year.

Here’s my “why” for my therapy practice:

I believe that loving and accepting relationships have incredible healing power.

Call me a bad therapist. It wouldn’t be the first time. But I write my case notes during sessions. It’s not “writing” really. It’s more like “jotting” a few important things down as I go. I sign and date the note at the end of the session and I’m done. Call me crazy, but I like to complete all work, notes, letter writing on behalf of the client during the session. I have resistance to adding and hour or so at the end of my day for case notes.

If you haven’t been able to tell from past posts, I tend to be an early adopter when it comes to technology. I had a therapy website in the early 2000′s. I’ve been on Facebook and Twitter for 4 years (which is a long time for the over 40 crowd). I love my iPhone and iPad. I developed an app. But, I haven’t yet transition to electronic notes and health records, until now.

Starting today my therapy clinic is finally transitioning to an electronic records and practice management system. After a lot of research we decided to go with Care Paths.