Private Practice Blog for Therapists
Hundreds of articles on building, growing, and sustaining your private practice — written by therapists, for therapists. Not recycled generic business advice.
Simple Private Practice Marketing During Stressful Times
Marketing Is An Act Of Caring About Others
Right now, someone is sitting in their house, struggling with their relationships, an addiction, depression or anxiety, and they need help. But if you stay silent, how do they know that help is out there for them?
Marketing is how we show people we care be of service to our communities. Many of whom do not know that virtual therapy is an option right now.
We did a Facebook Live recently on marketing during Covid-19 and our global pandemic, but the principles apply whether you are in crisis or not.
Security and Flexibility in Private Practice vs. Agency Work with Alicia
Alicia is a group practice owner specializing in couples counseling in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. She helps clients with relationship struggles such as infidelity, divorce, and postpartum anxiety and depression.
We spoke with her about whether agency work is truly reliable (spoiler - it's not!), and she shared the details of her transition from a no-good website to a full family AND full practice that operates on an optimal schedule for her.
Free Meditation for Stressed Out Therapists
Therapists are needed today. But, many are fearful about business, finances, and unsure what the next step is. We have a free meditation for you today. Give yourself 15 minutes to listen.
We also talk to several therapists who share their hearts and what is happening in their private practices right now and how they are coping and what is working. Press play and give it a listen.
“Thank you so much, Kelly & Miranda! I learned so much from this session.” “thank you- I needed that today! tension in my body dropped by 4pts!” “Stress level down by 3!”
Urgent: Therapists if your clients want to pause services right now, you MUST do this!
The clinical steps you MUST take as a therapist with every open client even if they decline telehealth right now and even if they haven't been in to see you in a few weeks.
Success Story: Elizabeth
Elizabeth provides counseling in Annapolis, MD for anxious, stressed out, overwhelmed women.
How were you feeling before you signed up for bootcamp?: I was unsure how to set my rates and felt guilty about asking for more.
What did your private practice look like before bootcamp started?: My practice was very small and I joined when I first opened it.
How do you feel after Business School Bootcamp for Therapists?: I feel more confident raising my rates and with being a business owner.
How to market during the coronavirus: Ethics, Advice, and What is REALLY working
We planned our 4-part Masterclass and this panel interview months ago with NO idea that the world would be experiencing a literal pandemic. This training could not have come at a better time. Real people in business talking about how their businesses are being impacted, and guess what? It is NOT all doom and gloom. Hear from therapists are looking at hiring right now due to overwhelming requests, therapists running group practices, and therapists that are solo. Click play and listen today.
COVID-19 Plan for Therapists: Questions, Answers, and Guidelines
Whether you are currently in an area where more stringent guidelines have been set by your local government or not, there are real questions coming up for therapists in private practice related to being prepared if:
A client has returned from a high risk area
A client comes in sick
If you have a client who tells you that they’ve tested positive for COVID-19
A client has a family member who has tested positive for COVID-19
You or one of your staff are in a high-risk population
Your local government puts restrictions or bans on leaving the house
If your client, or their child is quarantined
Local school closures for your clients or your children
Success Story: Megan
Megan Carney is a psychologist for PTSD and vicarious trauma for marginalized communities in Ada county, ID.
Your Experience with Bootcamp in one sentence: It gave me the knowledge, support, and confidence I needed to not give up on myself.
How were you feeling before you signed up for bootcamp?: I knew I wanted to do bootcamp for a long time and felt like I was flailing around and trying random things with no real clarity before I finally made the investment to join.
Success Story: Alisa
Alisa provides therapy in Philadelphia for anger management, anxiety and stress management, addictions, pregnancy, and postpartum anxiety.
Your Experience with Bootcamp in one sentence: Bootcamp was challenging but I learned so much and got my practice running so successfully so quickly that I was able to consider expanding to a group practice within 6 months.
How were you feeling before you signed up for bootcamp?: I was worried that I wouldn't be able to succeed in my practice and have the schedule that I wanted for my family.
Full Private Practice - What does that mean?
Ever wonder if your private practice is really full?
Sometimes you might think:
I have to be super busy to be full…
I have to have to have x amount of sessions to be full…
My friend sees 10 more clients a week than me, I guess I’m not full..
Full doesn't mean successful. You could have a ton of clients and be charging a fee that is all over the place or doesn’t allow you to run a business optimally, or take care of you optimally.
Full doesn't mean happy. You could be seeing a ton of clients that are not the right fit, sessions that drain you and lead to more stress and burnout.
Full doesn't mean great outcomes. You could be seeing a ton of clients with high turnover, high drop out rates and low outcomes with clients.
Training Updates from Houston, TX
We were delighted to be invited by the Texas Association of Marriage and Family Therapists to present at their Private Practice Success conference last week. We met therapists at all stages of private practice and got to support them through trainings and conversations. Therapists earned CE units learning about how to set an ethical fee and charge it with integrity to get better outcomes with clients, and how to market to create better clinical outcomes.
We LOVED (and hated) having therapists come up to us after our trainings and say “I wish I’d heard this information 10 years ago!”
Success Story: Sara
Sara provides LGBTQ+ affirming therapy for individuals, couples, teens and families in Long Beach, CA alongside her team at Prospect Therapy. She specializes in transgender affirming care across the lifespan, high-functioning anxiety and perfectionism, first-generation and bicultural Americans, and LGBTQ+ couples therapy.
How were you feeling before you signed up for bootcamp?: Overwhelmed but determined. I had a few things going for me before I signed up for bootcamp: I had the privilege of a full time job, so I could start my practice slowly and not out of urgency. I also knew that I was ready to do hard work and learn independently. I didn't think it would be "a few simple steps," which was good to know going in. However, the more I clicked around online, read advice articles, and watched videos, the more overwhelming it all got. That cycle of "the more you know, the more you realize you don't know" started getting to me. I looked for programs that would let me be flexible about what I wanted to do, but also give me a roadmap and some guidance so I could take steps in the most effective order.
“BST was the best investment I have made in myself. I went from working 45-50 hours per week to working 25 hrs, doubling my income,” Cyndi
What if this really could change everything?
You don’t have to decide today.
Just get on the interest list and we’ll walk you through what Business School for Therapists is, what it includes, and how it’s helped thousands of therapists get their life (and income) back.