I’ve spent months writing about how to effectively use technology, and social media in particular, to build your private mental health practice. While the Internet has opened up exciting new ways for mental health therapists in private practice to market their practice, reach potential clients, and educate the public, it has also allowed for new ethical dilemmas.
When I first started practicing nearly two decades ago, I was concerned about my child being on the same soccer team as a client’s child, or about running into clients at parties of mutual friends. The increasing Internet usage by therapists and clients alike has created new opportunities for dual relationships online. Over the coming weeks I’ll be discussing ways to use social media ethically in the digital age.
Here are a just few examples of digital dual relationship dilemmas that therapists now face:
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.
Collaborative psychiatrist Kelli Hyland, MD‘s office space in Salt Lake City, UT is unlike most traditional medical office spaces. What’s impressive is that it is both functional and funky, and accurately reflects Kelli’s collaborative style and approach to treatment. I love how Kelli has set up the waiting room to function as a personal work space and a colleague consultation room.
For additional information on Dr. Kelli Hyland’s collaborative psychiatry practice in Salt Lake City visit KelliHylandMD.com.
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.
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:
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.
“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.
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.
photo credit: Eric Schwartzman
