“I Want to Start a Private Practice but....”
Sheralyn (Sherry) Shockey-Pope, LMFT
We spend a great amount of time learning how to become excellent therapists and we develop our skills set to deliver high quality services. However, we are not taught how to develop or manage a business. We lack the resources and know-how to step out and create a business. We begin to doubt ourselves and our abilities, often settling for the safest route of agency work. This presentation will provide practical tips to building a successful private practice and help you move past the mindset of fear.
Objectives:
1. Participants will learn that a therapist can make a good living in private practice
2. Participants will learn how to structure their workdays
3. Participants will learn website basics that every therapist should know
4. Participants will learn how to stand out in a crowded market and how to be seen
5. Participants will learn how to utilize social media without wasting time
Sherry Shockey-Pope is co-owner of Central Counseling Services, a successful and vibrant group practice in Riverside specializing in trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, domestic violence, marital relationships, and divorce counseling. At her practice, she supervises interns and associates, and she trains in a variety of areas including self-care, intimate partner violence and mental health for the 6 local Southern California counties. She is a member of PSI CHI National Honor Society and has been licensed since 2000. Prior to this she worked as Chief Financial Officer of Kids Court & Counseling Center, a non-profit, and for Adoption Services, Riverside County Department of Public Social Services. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, swimming, and sailing.
3 Tips to Becoming a Better Private Practice Owner
By Sherry Shockey-Pope, LMFT
We get into graduate school, and we dive into the work all the assessments, diagnosis, use of DSM 5, bio-psychosocials, interventions, and theories. We spend long hours working with clients in our practicum and internship to develop our therapeutic skills. Many of us dream of opening a private practice. Then the reality sets in. How can I afford rent? What if I can’t get clients? Where do I find clients? Doubts start rolling in, and it’s not long until that little voice in our heads is screaming “You can’t do this!” “What do you know about being a business owner?” Before long the imposter syndrome sets in. What is that you say? It is a concept that describes high-achieving individuals who are marked by the inability to internalize their accomplishments and are in persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud. This happens to many well-meaning therapists: major self-doubt. Did you realize that you are only one of 10.9 % of the population that holds a masters degree? That we have more direct client hours, post masters degree than most other professions except some medical specialties. Other professional careers like lawyers, dentists, teachers, veterinarians, or political leaders do not have the stringency of post-degree hours like Marriage and Family Therapists have. I would argue that due to the lack of true business skills this self-doubt looms even larger. I have listed below three skills I feel will help you become a successful business owner.
- 1. Start reading books on marketing and business. Since most likely will not have a class in business, you must start to self-educate in this area. I know you are already groaning. “I hate business; that is why I became a therapist.” Or “I have no time, I am juggling everything already.” I hear you, I really do. But if you are going to be a business owner you need to learn the boring business stuff. The skills are not that hard to learn. Have you no time? But you still have 20 minutes every couple of days, right? You do not have to race through and devour a book a week. What I am saying is take the approach of slow and steady wins the race. I find time in my day by listening to Audible (digitally-recorded books) during my commute time. I listen to two, sometimes three books a month as I drive. I have about a 20-minute drive most days, and I use that time to build my business.
- 2. Approach Your Business like An Adult. Please do not think about your business as a diversion. Your business is needed; according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics the need for psychotherapists is expected to rise 15% during the years of 2014-2024. Which, unfortunately, says to me that people are still having major mental wellness crises for which we need to be prepared. So, open those separate bank accounts, get an EIN number, collect your copays, answer the phone, learn to market, and use social media to the best of your ability. An adult would treat your business like the serious enterprise that it is.
- 3. Create a Great Website. There is no excuse for not having a web presence anymore. People who might want to be your potential clients want to see you, hear you, and try you on, if you will (virtually). People connect to people, and they want to see you before they make a huge investment; especially millennials. Here again, our therapist self-doubt comes into play. I hear a therapist say “I can’t possibly put up a photo of me, I’m too fat; until I lose weight or get a haircut or . . . fill in the blank. There never is the right time. Clients want to see you; they don’t expect perfection, they want to know how you will solve their pain. So work on getting a website up, post pictures of yourself and your office, and add a video if you can. Write copy to your ideal client and speak to their pain point. There are plenty of resources for creating a website. You can hire a web developer, or use a drag and drop site like Squarespace or WordPress. Find a way and get something up there.
If you need more help on creating the business of your dreams, join me for a small group intensive where you get to learn nuts and bolts of practice building. You can sign up by calling (951) 778-0230 or going to the website@ www.therapistbox.com and signing up. You can also sign up for FREE monthly private practice tips by going to http://bit.ly/2gznFEY.