The Practice of Therapy Podcast

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Dayna Sykes, LPC about making the transition into private practice from agency work. In particular, Dayna talks about being able to start doing the kind of work she is really passionate about and doing things her way. Dayna also talks about the big learning curve for her as she moved into private practice, especially since she is a solo practitioner. Gordon and Dayna also talk about getting on and OFF insurance panels and what that process has been like for Dayna. Dayna also talks about how she developed her niche and the transitions she made around that. They also talk about the importance of not being too isolated in your practice and drawing on the support and help of others. Meet Dayna Sykes Dayna Sykes, LPC-MHSP is the owner of Gordonsville Counseling & Play Therapy in Gordonsville, TN (cool name by the way!). Her website is daynasykeslpc.com. Dayna specializes in working with teens who are struggling with anxiety and depression. Dayna received her B.S.W. in Social Work at Middle Tennessee State University in 2002 and was able to jump right into a career with an agency working as an In-home Family Counselor. This job equipped her for her specialty in teenage issues and parent training. She worked there for 7 years in several different positions to include In-home Family Counselor, Crisis Counselor, In-home and Transitional Living Supervisor, and Clinical Consultant and Trainer for the Middle Tennessee Region. While working for the agency, Dayna started attending Argosy University where she obtained her M.A. in Professional Counseling and worked to complete requirements for her License in Professional Counseling, which she completed in 2010. Dayna says, "I'm a Private Practice Owner, Licensed Child and Teen Therapist- small-town practitioner with big dreams! Wife and mom of 2, baseball mom, farm life, spend my me time running and reading." Why Private Practice One of the main reasons people make the transition into private practice from being at an agency is out of a desire to be more independent and be their own boss. For Dayna, her decision to go into private practice was mainly motivated by her desire to have more time for her family. She made the transition to private practice after having her first child. For others, the motivation to move into private practice from an agency setting is around being able to set your own niche and doing therapy your own way. Many times, agencies have a certain model or method of doing therapy that they expect their clinicians to follow. Not to mention the amount of time spent with clients and being able to give some extra attention to cases. Other motivations for private practice come from being more financially independent. Earning potential for many agencies is based solely on getting raises and/or company wage standards. In private practice, especially for owners of the practice, you have more opportunity to increase your income and determine when and how you want to work. Beating the Learning Curve Going into private practice, especially as a solo practitioner, requires learning a lot. There are so many processes and logistics to learn from the beginning. Hopefully, we don't have to learn too much from our mistakes, but they do help us learn nonetheless. Dayna and Gordon talk about being able to draw on supports to help with the learning curve. Things like this podcast and others can provide so much needed information to help counselors and therapists in their private practice journeys. Finding the Right Niche Dayna also talks about how she developed and found the right niche for her in her practice. For her, she had a passion of play therapy that she developed in graduate school. When she was working for the agency, she felt limited by what she wanted to do with clients. Originally she had intended to just work with adults in her private practice. But as she saw the need, it helped her to reconnect with her former passion. This helped her to create her niche which ended up being a better fit for her after all; working with teens using play therapy. Working With Your Ideal Clients When we work with our ideal clients, it just makes us do better clinical work. If you are working with populations that of people. If you find yourself working with people that you have difficulty connecting to or just simply don't enjoy, you should probably do something else. Working with your ideal client will help you stay energized and actually look forward to going to work every day. A lot of times, that is the missing piece for people when working for an agency. Drawing On Supports One of the mistakes that many people new to private practice do, is trying too hard to go it alone. As was mentioned, being in private practice, especially as a solo practitioner, can be lonely and isolating. That is why it is so important to be intentional about connecting with other practitioners and collaborating. Another point to

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about some business basics and being able to navigate the business side of private practice. There are several places to focus when going into or growing your private practice. Gordon breaks these different focus area down into: mindset, planning, managing, marketing, re-investing, and sustaining. Ultimately, having a private practice as a therapist or counselor is being in business to "sell" your time and expertise. People want and need to come to us for our services. Knowing the business side of this assures success. Business… [biz-nis] Noun an occupation, profession, or trade:His business is poultry farming. the purchase and sale of goods in an attempt to make a profit. a person, partnership, or corporation engaged in commerce, manufacturing, or a service; profit-seeking enterprise or concern. Watch the video of the webinar here Private Practice Mindset Being employed is not the same as being self-employed… Employed FICA, Social Security, Medicare – deducted from pay Benefits- Retirement & Insurance Fixed Salary Only Standard Deductions for taxes Paid by paycheck Money is personal money Self-Employed Self-employment taxes paid quarterly Retirement & Insurance are an expense Salary based on your "draw" Business expenses are deductions What you can pay yourself is based on business equity Business money is separate from personal money Having a Business Plan If you don't know where you are going, how are you going to get there… Financial Goals What sort of "salary" do you want to have? How much money do you need to maintain the lifestyle you want? How many sessions per week/month do you need to have to reach your financial goals? What do you want your net worth to be? Time Goals How many days a week do you want to work? How much time-off do you want and need? Will your time-off be something that is paid for? How much time do you need to spend seeing clients to reach both your financial & time goals? Managing Your Private Practice Keeping things running like a well-oiled machine… Clinical Side Intake Documentation Record Keeping Follow-up with clients and ancillary people Business Side Client payments Insurance payments (and claims!) Accounting – Tracking income, expenses and cash flows Referral generation & development Marketing Your Practice You can't just build it… You have to build it then tell them about it… Connecting With Potential Clients Creating a niche Website Social Media Blogging Advertising Being known in the community Connecting With Potential Referers Professional connections Networking in the community Insurance & EAP Panels Previous Clients Reputation in the community Re-Investing For Growth Fertilize it and it will grow… Time Investment Bootstrapping in the early stages Learning the business side of things Learning how to market Polishing the clinical skills Developing a niche Money Investment Learning what will give you a good ROI Outsourcing things that do not bring you money directly As you grow, invest in things that will "double" your efforts Invest in things that will diversify your income streams Keeping It Sustainable Be in it for the long haul… Being consistent with your efforts Thinking long-term Learning from others Finding a mentor and/or coaches Download the Power Point PDF Apply for a Mastermind Group Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest "Like" us on Facebook.

In this episode, Gordon talks again with Jane Carter, LPC about finding your "Superpowers" and priorities in private practice. Jane and Gordon share how their mindsets have shifted over time and how it has changed the focus of their practices. Jane also shares how getting some business coaching changed her practice and helped her to grow exponentially. She also shares how she made the shift to doing more coaching rather than traditional therapy in her practice. They also talk about being able to embrace change and taking some risks. And, at the same time, being genuine to yourself and knowing your gifts. Meet Jane Carter Jane Carter, LPC is a counselor and business coach from Asheville, NC. Jane has spent the last several years in private practice as a counselor and has recently begun focusing more on business coaching, not only for therapists but other businesses as well. Her website is: JaneCarterCoaching.com Jane says, "As a therapist, business coach, and life coach, I love helping people navigate the path to achieving their goals for a meaningful life. I apply these principles in my own life in the mountains of Asheville, NC, where I'm an outdoors woman, world-traveler, dog-mama, food-and-wine lover, reader, and coffee-shop connoisseur. (I'm also known for making up great puns on the fly)." First Pancakes Jane talks about how she has tried a few things that really have not worked so well for her as a counselor and a business coach. She refers to these as "first pancakes". If you have ever cooked pancakes, the first ones you try to make never turn out that good. But you have to make that first one for the rest to be perfect. Our private practices are the same way. How you start out is probably not going to be at all like you end up. There will be a huge learning curve and you will experience some failures along the way. But you have to always make the first pancake… Finding Your Superpowers Your "superpowers" are your gifts and talents as a person. Superpowers are also found in what you are passionate about. Finding your superpowers means being able to discover what you do better than anything else. And when you do those things, you can do them almost effortlessly. To find your superpowers it is important get feedback from others to know what they see in you that you might not have really noticed before. This is where coaching and finding a mentor can help so very much. Another way to think about "superpowers" is really to think about what your strengths might be. By understanding and knowing yourself well, you can be more genuine and authentic with people. In many ways, it is what we help our clients with day in and day out. We help them find their strengths and gifts to help them thrive in life. When we know our own "superpowers", we are better able to live into how we can best help people. It makes us more authentic and genuine with what we do. People will notice that and be drawn to it. Using Your Superpowers To Market Your Practice One of the keys things to remember about marketing is that people are drawn to what is genuine. In many ways, it is all about helping people discover how you can help them in their lives. It's putting yourself in front of others and sharing with them how your superpowers can help them transform their lives. Building the Long Game The other thing to remember about growing a private practice, or any business for that matter, is to think about the "long game". "Get rich quick" rarely works. But by being able to think long-term and be content with steady growth, we are usually much more satisfied and content. Sharing your superpowers as a clinician, people will notice it as being genuine and authentic. Ultimately, being able to know yourself well and discover your true strengths and abilities will help you be much more successful. It is where our superpowers live. By embracing our superpowers, we become much more effective as clinicians and human beings in general. Resources Mentioned: Get a free copy of the "Private Practice Crush Game" by emailing Jane at [email protected]. Use the subject line: "Gordon Brewer is awesome". Let Jane know you listened to the podcast and she will send you the game. Jane's coaching and consulting website: JaneCarterCoaching.com Get "The Works" – Paperwork Packet, Session Note Helper™ and the Accounting Templates for Google Sheets in one money-saving bundle – practiceoftherapy.com/theworks Apply for a Mastermind Group and find your "Superpowers"! Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest "Like" us on Facebook.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about finding and living into your purpose and passion in private practice as a therapist, counselor or social worker. One of the important pieces of being successful in private practice is simply making sure you are doing what you enjoy and that give meaning. Gordon talks about some of the insights he has had lately through attending conferences and the work being done around the opioid crisis occurring in Tennessee and other parts of the country. Finding Your Passion If you were to think about it, when was it that you decided to go into the career you are in? Was there a defining moment? What about people that maybe influenced you? All of us go into this work for different reasons. It might be an interest in the clinical side of things. Or maybe you simply do this out of a passion for helping people who are struggling in life. It might be too that you had gone to therapy yourself and discovered a passion for this kind of work. Regardless of how you get into this field or career, I think it is important to remind yourself why you did that. So many times we can become jaded and lose sight of our passion for the work we do. Getting bogged down in the logistics of the work, whether it is the paperwork and documentation or the schedule, can cause a person to forget why they decided to go into this kind of work, to begin with. Finding Your Purpose Obviously, purpose and passion tend to go hand in hand. But I think of purpose as the place we can put our passion into action. Your passion helps inform your purpose. Then your purpose will help you inform your niche. Having a niche in your practice will help assure two things: Helping you fill your practice with your ideal clients. Ensuring you of doing the work you are passionate about. Changing Passions and Purposes Over Time One of the things that happens for many people is that our passions and purpose changes over time. This can occur for many different reasons. Many times though this occurs when we have experienced an event or epiphany about something. An example of this was a clinician that I knew that had gone through some significant health problems. It was something she overcame, but as a result, it caused her passion and purpose to change. She had been primarily focused on helping children in her practice. But as a result of this issue in her life, she began working with people struggling with chronic pain. For me, I had a bit of an epiphany in my own focus with the opioid addiction crisis we are having in our area. One of the things I am seeing in my practice is more and more clients either affected directly or indirectly by opioid addictions. In tandem with this, I happened to attend two conferences recently that dealt with the opioid crisis here in Tennessee and nationwide. Both of these things have prompted me to have a new passion for me around this issue and the effects it is having on many of my clients. Being Genuine, Authentic and Present Finally, the work of being a counselor, therapist or any other mental health clinician does require authenticity and genuineness. It is the only way to do your best work as a clinician and a business person. Otherwise, people see right through it. As I tell the people I supervise for licensure, to be a good clinician you have to have the ability to connect with people. It requires being totally present with people…what I like to refer to as "the ministry of presence" There are a lot of hurting people out there. You will and can make a difference in their lives! So go out there and help heal this hurting world by finding your purpose and passion! Resources Mentioned: Holy Friendship Summit: https://divinity.duke.edu/events/holy-friendship-summit-healing-heart-southern-appalachia Hacks and Tips for Google G-Suite Join the Mastermind Group Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest "Like" us on Facebook.

In this episode, Gordon talks with Whitney Owens, LPC about marketing a private practice after starting from scratch. Whitney is the owner of Waters Edge Counseling in Savannah, GA. Whitney has started a private practice twice. Because of moves, she has made with her family, Whitney has had practices in both Georgia and in Colorado. Whitney and Gordon discuss the ways that she found to network and make contacts with people to grow her practice quickly after starting it. Meet Whitney Owens, LPC Whitney is originally from Valdosta, Georgia and has a master's degree in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University in Atlanta. GA. Following graduate school, Whitney and her husband immediately moved to Denver, CO where she built a private practice while also doing inpatient work at a local hospital. In 2014 they moved to Savannah, Georgia and Whitney started Water's Edge Counseling. Whitney is married with two beautiful girls ages five and one. In addition to counseling, Whitney also offers a number of other services including training and keynote speaking. She has been invited to local organizations such as churches and schools to educate on leadership, adolescent issues, parenting, family concerns, and mental health. Whitney has also facilitated retreats focused on helping women heal and find themselves. Starting From Scratch In Private Practice One of the unique things about Whitney is that when she started her current practice, she was able to build it and fill it with clients fairly quickly. What Whitney has done has been to concentrate on some proven ways to build a practice from scratch. Whitney has had the unique opportunity to start private practices in two different cities during her career thus far. And what she did was typical for a lot of people, she started at private practice while working somewhere else. Whitney was working in an inpatient setting and then would see private practice clients in the evenings and on weekends. Both experiences gave her the opportunity to learn not only clinical skills but also some business building and private practice skills. When Whitney and her husband got the opportunity to move back to Georgia from Colorado, Whitney made the decision to pursue private practice as a full-time endeavor. Marketing and Building Relationships One thing that Whitney knew she needed to do in order to build her practice was start networking. What she knows about the town and culture she now lives in (Savannah, GA), is that building those relationships in the community were important. What has worked best for Whitney is spending time out in the community going to doctors offices and even doing some presentations with them on mental health issues. So many times doctors offices, hospitals, and other providers are grateful to have the contact and know who to refer to. By having that personal connection just increases the likelihood of them feeling confident to make those referrals. Understanding the Community's Needs The other place in which Whitney has had a lot of success is in having an understanding of the community's needs. By spending time with doctors and other professionals, she would simply ask what were their concerns for patients and how as a therapist, she could help them with those problems. It comes from a place of concern rather than going out there to "convince" someone to make referrals. For example, Whitney was able to connect with a local design school that sends her referrals from their student counseling services. And in addition to the referrals, she is getting, she was able to connect with some students to help with the revamp of her website. So it was a "win, win" situation for both she and the design school students. Drawing on Supports The other thing that Whitney has been able to do is to draw on the support of a mastermind group. Both Gordon and Whitney have been involved in mutual mastermind groups and have learned so much. Whitney said that she has been able to double her income since being involved in a mastermind group. Mastermind groups allow clinicians to be with peers who are struggling with many of the same issues in their practices. A person can learn so much from the group in that many of the people in the group, along with the facilitator, have done or are working on many of the same things. For example, things as simple as what phone system to use or larger issues like whether or not to form a group practice. The other thing that mastermind group does is create a sense of accountability for you in your practice. Private practice can be lonely and by having other like-minded people to bounce things off of, helps us stay focused. Also if you say you are going to do something, the group, in a way, holds you do that and holds you accountable. Creating A Niche One of the other things that Whitney and Gordon discussed is how they have both integrated faith and spirituality as somewhat of a niche in their practices. Both Whitney and Gordon have

This is part 4, of this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, "Love the Work, But Hate The Job". In this session, Gordon talks about marketing and developing referral sources as you start and grow your private practice. This four-part series discusses the various steps and things a clinician might want to think about as they move into private practice. Especially those people making the transition from agency work into private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your "WHY", 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals. Check out the mini-course: "Love the Work, But Hate The Job" In this course, you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!) Marketing and Referral Sources "Marketing" is a word most of us therapist types shy away from. The idea of "selling" anything really rubs us the wrong way. In fact, unless a person has had any experience in business or in marketing, it can seem daunting. Most of us in this field have not had that. I think it is important to think about it differently though. My friend and colleague, Allison Puryear, puts it this way: "Marketing your private practice is simply helping the people that need and want our services find you…" I like thinking about it that way! Marketing your private practice simply comes down to making it easier for people to find us. It's getting your name in front of the people that you can best help. It does not have to be pushy or "salesy". Clients Come to Us In Two Ways If you think about it we get clients is two ways. One is they search us out on their own because they are struggling with some sort of personal issue in some way. Typically they will do an internet search or ask for some sort of recommendation from someone. The second way is through some sort of referral or suggestion from someone that they come to us; typically a doctor or other professional. So when you think about getting clients there are two areas to focus. One is online and the second is through referral people. Online Marketing Needless to say, in this day and age, having a website is a must. This is especially true for those just getting started and developing a client base. For the majority of people, they "Google it" first. So having an effective website should be a priority when it comes to getting a private practice started. It is your "marketing hub". Two Ways To Have A Website First is to create a website yourself. This a good choice for someone that has a bit of tech-savvy and the time to do it. Especially when you are in that "bootstrapping phase" of private practice. What this involves is creating your domain name and getting a hosting service to house your website. I recommend Bluehost for this. (You can learn more about that here.) And if you want to learn more about creating websites and be in a do-it-yourself mode, a good resource is Daniel Fava's, CreateMyTherapistWebsite.com (affiliate link) The second way to have a website is to have someone else create it for you. For this, I recommend Brighter Vision. They are the experts in helping counselors and therapists build beautiful websites. They also help with SEO (Search Engine Optimization) which helps your website get ranked higher in Google. In fact, therapists websites are all they do. BrighterVision (affiliate link -use this link to get one month free) Blogging One of the best ways to boost your SEO and establish yourself as an expert, is to blog. Blogging does not have be overly complicated and should be treated like writing a research paper. Use short paragraphs and put things into simple, ordinary language. Write to your clients and the struggles they are having. Developing Referral Relationships Besides having an online presence, developing referral relationships is a tried and true way to bring in new clients. AKA, "networking" is truly about developing relationships. If you think about it, it is what we do best as therapists and counselors. We do it all the time with clients. Networking can be simply be dropping off business cards or rack cards to doctors or other professionals to use for referrals of patients. It could also be getting together with potential referral people for coffee or lunch. One tool that I use is a "coordination of care" form. (You can get a link to that by downloading the free Marketing Cheat Sheet). I get an "authorization to release" and send the coordination of care form and a practice flyer (information about my practice) to doctors of the clients I am seeing. The doctor and client appreciate the contact and the doctor becomes aware of my practice. Other ways to develop referral sources is to just simply become involved in your community, especially with other professionals. When people know you, they will refer to you. Put In the Sweat Equity Marketing your practice is something that does ta

This is part 3, of this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, "Love the Work, But Hate The Job". In this session, Gordon explores some of the logistics around setting up an office and getting started with your private practice. This four-part series discusses the various steps and things a clinician might want to think about as they move into private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your "WHY", 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals. Check out the mini-course: "Love the Work, But Hate The Job" In this course, you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!) Setting Up The Office One of the very first things you have to figure out, logistically, about going into private practice is where and how you will see clients. The good news about doing talk therapy is all you really need is a couple of chairs and place to meet that is private and has very few distractions. The truth is, that could be just about anywhere. But, we need a little more than that for ourselves and for our clients. For example, a waiting and reception area is nice to have. Also, a comfy, warm and inviting therapy room makes a big difference too. We want our clients to feel at ease and safe when they come to us. Finding the right place to meet with clients sometimes takes some creativity and willingness to "think outside the box". For most people getting started in private practice, there needs to be some flexibility in order be a bit more frugal. You really can't afford a huge office with all the "bells and whistles" in those beginning stages. Finding an Office Space There are a lot of things you want to take into consideration in getting an office to see clients. Location is important. Also thinking about how clients get in and out of the space. It's better to not have a lot of stairs (I did that and it was a barrier for some clients). Also thinking long-term as you grow; will the space support your growth? A good place to start is just looking online and in directories like Craigslist. Keep an eye out for places as your drive around town or begin to look. Sometimes people will only advertise by having a sign out in front of an office space. I know too, letting friends and other folks know you are looking for an office space can bring some results. Use social media to help let people know you are looking. Also maybe consider talking to a realtor who specializes in office space. Bootstrapping and Sharing Office Space The normal progression of being in private practice is that you will want to do a lot of "bootstrapping" in those beginning stages. In other words, you leverage your time while you have a lot of it. You also want to be able to save as much money as possible as you build your financial assets in the practice. Depending on where you are located, office space may be easy to come by or not. Usually, if there is a lot of spaces available, the prices will be more competitive. Needless to say, it makes sense, in those beginning stages, not to overextend yourself financially by spending a lot on office space. After all, office space will be one of your bigger, if not the biggest, expense you will have with running a private practice. For this reason, subleasing or sharing office space just makes sense. And it doesn't need to be another therapist's office either. You could rent or sublease space from any other professional (lawyers, doctors, chiropractors, etc.). Also, look into churches, synagogues or other civic organizations that might have the extra space. Group Practices One thing to not overlook is considering joining a group private practice as an independent contractor. Depending on their business model, many group practices do a "fee-split" with the clinicians they contract with. The advantage is that your "overhead" is already taken care of by the fee split. Depending on how it is structured, you might do better, in the long run, to work within a group practice than trying to go out on your own and build the referrals and client base you need. Also, it might be that you would come out better financially by not having to worry as much about the cost of being in practice. Non-Traditional Services Another thing to consider when getting started in private practice is to look into teletherapy or online therapy. It is something that is certainly growing and lucrative for a lot of people. In fact, some people have built their whole practice around this model of delivery. Another delivery method is to go to the clients, rather than them coming to you. In-home therapy is offered by a lot of agencies. The same model can be used by people in private practice. Phones, Email and Such Another part of running a private practice is having systems in place for people to contact you and make appointments. There are any number of phone systems avail

This is part 2, of this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, "Love the Work, But Hate The Job". In this session, Gordon talks about making a plan for transitioning into private practice from working in an agency setting into private practice. This four-part series discusses the various steps and things a clinician might want to think about as they move into private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your "WHY", 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals. Check out the mini-course: "Love the Work, But Hate The Job" In this course you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!) Making a Plan Needless to say, for most things in life, if you plan it out, things usually tend to go better. That is not to say though, plans always go as expected! Nonetheless, if you don't know where you are going, how are you going to get there?! So you have figured out your "WHY" and decided that going into private practice is what you really want to do. You have envisioned your future and thought about where you see yourself, 5, 10, or 20 years from now. The next thing is to begin thinking about how you are going to get there. Understanding Your Financial Need Most of us need to feel secure and know that changes will only enhance our lifestyle and better ourselves financially. And the place to start is to understand fully your current financial situation. If you are committed to moving into private practice full time, a good place to start is to figure out what it would take to make a lateral move. In other words, in order to replace your current salary and benefits, how many private practice clients would you need to see? A way to do that is to "work backward". Take the total you are making now, benefits included, and add in the costs associated with running your practice. This will give a figure to work backward from. For example: Salary and Benefits = $50,000.00 per year Cost of Business ("overhead") = $12,000.00 per year $50,000 + $12,000 = $62,000 $62,000 is needed to match what you are currently receiving from the agency. You would then divide that by the average per session rate you anticipate. That will then let you know how many sessions in a year you will need to support yourself. More detail on all this in this blog post: "Managing the Financial Side of Private Practice" Planning For Slow Times and Growth Periods Needless to say, when you go into private practice there are periods of time when the practice is not bringing in any income. This is especially true for the first several months (and sometimes years) of when practice is started. No one starts at "full". It takes time… You need to be prepared financially for those slow periods and for times when you want to take off. As a general rule, I suggest you have 2-6 months salary & expenses in reserve for those times. Getting Your Financial House In Order Part of the planning process is to also get your personal financial situation in order. The number one reason private practices fail, is that the practitioner was not prepared financially to make that move. They put too much of a financial strain on themselves personally. It's a good idea work to get yourself out of debt as soon as possible before making a move into full-time private practice. One strategy is to move into private practice part-time while continuing to work a full time in the agency. This works sometimes… Certainly you do not want to create conflicts of interest or do anything unethical with clients while doing this. (No stealing sheep!!). But if you are in a niche that does not compete with your current employer it is doable. By doing this, you can use what you make in the private practice to build a reserve and get yourself out of debt or both. It will also give you the opportunity to build the practice without being under a financial strain. Planning For Where and How You Provide Services There are several ways to provide services. Usually, we think of traditional office visits as the main way of providing services. In the initial stages of your practice, you will probably want to borrow or sublease space from another therapist or business. Or you could join another practice that is already established as a contracted (1099) provider. Other things to consider seeing clients in non-traditional ways. For example, teletherapy or in-home services. Planning for Being in Business Finally, it is important to remember that being in private practice as a counselor or therapist means you are running a business. As you plan, it is important to learn as much as possible about running a business and marketing your practice. In this next session, we'll be discussing the logistics of finding and setting up an office.

For many counselors, therapists, social workers, and psychologists, the dream of being in private practice, or even owning their own practice, seems daunting. In this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about the steps needed to make the transition from doing agency work, as a mental health clinician, to being in private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your "WHY", 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals. Check out the mini-course: "Love the Work, But Hate The Job" In this course you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!) Knowing Your "WHY" For me, the place to always start is to ask "Why". Why do you want to go into private practice to begin with? And why did you chose this profession to begin with? We all have different motivations for why we do what we do. The main point is the importance of having a sense of purpose and direction in life. To be really clear for yourself the reasons behind pursuing private practice. A good visioning exercise is to begin thinking about where you see yourself 5, 10, 20 or even 30 years? Think about what the steps would be needed to begin moving towards those goals or aspirations. Questions to ask yourself: What are your financial goals? If you were to create your ideal week, what would that look like? Is your motivation to go into private practice more about having more autonomy or financial? Why would you NOT just want to keep doing what you are doing? If you were to change your "attitude" about your current job, would things be any different? What supports could you draw on to help you reach your personal goals? Why are you doing what you are doing now? Is it a stepping-stone to something else or is it just because the opportunity came up? FUN FACT: You are 40-60% more likely to reach a goal simply by writing it down... A good way to begin to capture all of these ideas is to start journaling about those things. Maybe also create a timeline for yourself with some realistic and attainable goals. Check out this blog post: "Why Asking WHY Matters Most" "Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living…" - Joseph Campbell Recommended Reading: [amazon_link asins='1885167776,0307465357,0801075254,0307719774' template='ProductGrid' store='POT Sales' marketplace='US' link_id='9459583a-4c83-11e8-9afb-11a6733109d0'] Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest "Like" us on Facebook.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Rachel McCrickard, LMFT about clinical supervision and her new venture, Motivo. Motivo helps solve the problem clinicians have around finding supervisors that are a good fit for them in their development and movement toward licensure. One the problems many people run into, especially in rural areas, is being able to have access to clinical supervision. They discuss the changes that have occurred with the licensure in many states, and the ability to meet with clinical supervisors via video conferencing. Motivo helps pair pre-licensed clinicians with the clinical supervisors they really want to work with. Meet Rachel McCrickard, LMFT Rachel McCrickard, Founder/CEO of Motivo, is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with extensive experience in the mental health care industry. A graduate of Azusa Pacific University, Rachel spent the early years of her career providing therapy to homeless individuals in Los Angeles, CA. In 2011, Rachel returned to her hometown of Chattanooga, TN where she began providing therapy to rural and underserved areas at a large mental health agency. Rachel began to recognize the difficulty many therapists experiences when attempting to find quality clinical supervision in rural areas. Impassioned by her inherent entrepreneurial spirit, Rachel fostered the creation of Motivo in 2017 and is now providing therapists with an easier path to licensure through online supervision. Finding the Right Fit Much of the clinical supervision process mirrors what we do in therapy with our clients. It is so important to find the right "fit" with a clinical supervisor. After all, you will be spending a great deal of time and making a significant financial commitment to move through the licensure process. Having a healthy relationship with the person who is supervising you is so critical for your development as a clinician. One dilemma is being supervised by someone with a different theoretical or clinical background from the clinician's training. For example, an MFT with training in systems theory working with someone using a more individually focused model. Motivo Solving the Problem When Rachel moved from California back to Tennessee she began working on forming Motivo out of a need she saw with many of her fellow clinicians. She was working for an agency and saw the struggle of many pre-licensed people having a hard time finding people to supervise them. Not only was it difficult for people to find clinical supervisors, the time and money commitment was prohibitive because of the distances people were having to travel to meet with supervisors. The solution was two-fold; using video conferencing and having a directory of clinical supervisors that could provide supervision. Motivo is a Portuguese word that means "foundation". The whole idea behind Motivo is helping clinicians make the best of their training years and developing a good foundation for their clinical work. Accessibility and Reasonable Rates When Rachel formed Motivo, it was with the idea of making clinical supervision not only accessible but affordable as well. Currently, they are in need of people to be supervisors. For supervisors, it is free to join. Apply at wearemotivo.com For people seeking a supervisor, the rates are very reasonable with a maximum individual rate of $60 per hour, $50 per hours for dyads and $40 per hour for groups. They also have the opportunity to interview as many potential supervisors at no cost. Diversifying Income For clinicians that are already licensed, offering supervision is a great way to diversify income and create other streams of income. In particular, if you are able to have supervision groups that help maximize your time. It's a win/win proposition in that you are creating other income for yourself and helping newer clinicians with their licensure process. Taking Risks and "Making the Jump" Another thing that Rachel and Gordon discussed was how Rachel had been working for an agency and decided to take the leap and go out on her own. Even though Rachel did not go specifically into private practice, she was able to do something "outside the box" but in a related field. The key was that Rachel took the time to learn about being an entrepreneur and identified a need for other clinicians. Rachel talked about looking into business resources within your community to learn more about running a small business. For example, Chambers of Commerce and other business incubators that are out there. Finally, Rachel and Gordon talk about how it is so important to seek out mentors and coaches to help us in our journey. If you think about it, it is no different than what our clients do with us as clinicians when they come to us with their problems. We all need guidance and mentors in our lives. It is the whole premise behind clinical supervision. Why not do the same with your business practices? Resources Mentioned: Rachel's Website: WeAreMotivo.c

Download Podcast In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Sybil Smith, LPC-MHSP about having a private practice in two different locations and, in two different states. Sybil shares how she has grown a successful group practice that serves very different populations due to cultural shifts. Sybil shares how she made the decision to make the move from agency work and step out into private practice. Sybil and Gordon talk about their decisions to join insurance panels and how that was not only economical decision but also a values-based decision. Meet Sybil R Smith, LPCS, FAMI, MT-BC Since 2003, Sybil has been a helper - first as a board-certified music therapist, then as a counselor, and now as a GIM Fellow and clinical supervisor. Using creativity and her entrepreneurial spirit, she opened a private practice and has now expanded into a group practice that focuses on providing trauma informed care in the experiential psychotherapy models, in the small town community of Johnson City, TN and in Asheville, NC. Her website is: www.TheJourneyCenterForHealingArts.com Dual Practices Having a practice in different cities, especially if there is a geographical shift, requires understanding the cultural nuances of those different places. Sybil talks about how having practice in Asheville, NC is much different than having a practice in the Tri-Cities of East Tennessee. Even though they are only 50 miles apart, they are very different culturally. Asheville tends to have much more educated demographic when it comes to mental health services. There is less education needed about the benefits of coming to counseling or therapy. Understanding Demographics and Culture It is important to understand the various needs of the community and the demographics of the community you are located. For example, Sybil and Gordon's practices are in the Appalachian region of their state(s). The culture very much influences not only the kinds of people they serve is also influences many of the clinical issues as well. (For example economic hardships and generational poverty). Deciding To Be On Insurance Panels Sybil and Gordon discussed their decisions to go on insurance panels. A big part of both their decisions to do this were influenced by the demographics of their area. The other was personal values about the population they are serving. The majority of people in their area are dependent on their insurance to receive mental health and medical services. Sybil's Private Practice Journey Sybil went into private practice directly from agency work. And because the agency she was working for had a "non-compete" clause in their contract, she could not start her private practice "on the side". So this required her to do a lot of networking in the community and building relationships with other professionals that would refer to her. Game Changers Sybil also talked about how, as she grew, getting an EHR system in place was a big game changer. Especially in terms of streamlining the filing of insurance claims for clients. Another one was connecting with people in the community by holding workshops and getting with community leaders. Sybil still maintains those relationships with those people that she started with. Collaborating With Other Therapists Another game changer, for both Sybil and Gordon, has been collaborating with other therapists in their community. Along with this is making those connections with other business leaders in your community and learning from them. You not only learn from them, but it builds those relationships with people who will refer to you directly or indirectly. Moving Into Group Practice For Sybil, she moved into group practice out of her own need to not be so isolated as a solo practitioner. Solo practice can be lonely and isolating. She wanted to have a team of people with her same values and passion for helping people. Also she wanted to have a team with similar clinical focus and theoretical backgrounds. Takeaways Be willing to take some risks and step-out when going into private practice. Don't go it alone! Always draw on supports and reach out and collaborate with other clinicians and business leaders in your community Take advantage of technology and ERH systems to streamline your processes and workflow Know the demographics and "culture" of your community. Work hard to serve their needs and your practice will be successful! Resources Mentioned: Sybil's website: www.TheJourneyCenterForHealingArts.com G-Suite for Therapists: practiceoftherapy.com/gsuitecourse Join a Mastermind Group: practiceoftherapy.com/mastermind Brighter Visions Website Solutions Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play

Download Podcast In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Amber Hawley, LMFT and Dr. Maelisa Hall about developing business relationships and support systems in private practice. Amber and Maelisa talk about being able to connect with people that are in similar places in their journey and how it has helped their practices thrive and grow. They talk about how getting together with others for support has increased their productivity and ability to focus in their businesses. Meet Amber Hawley Group psychotherapy practice owner, licensed marriage and family therapist, business coach, ENFP, mom of three kids and avid coffee drinker. You can find out more about Amber at: www.amberhawley.com www.couplesfix.com www.fremontcounselingservices.com Meet Dr. Maelisa Hall Licensed psychologist, consultant and trainer, online biz owner, ENFP, wife, cat owner and nail design enthusiast. You can find out more about Maelisa at: www.qaprep.com www.maeunleashed.com Maelisa and Amber met in an online book club that turned into an annual business retreat held with seven other female colleagues. After this they connected over being ENFPs with ADHD and their friendship grew into a biz bestie relationship. Together they started their podcast, My Biz Bestie, which helps other female biz owners find their support system and have more fun as entrepreneurs. Amber and Maelisa have a podcast, "My Biz Bestie" (https://www.mybizbestie.com/podcast/) where they talk about the struggles of being female business owners and how they have been able to develop meaningful relationships for support. Know Yourself Well Part of success in private practice, or any business for that matter, comes from knowing yourself well and knowing your limits. You need also know what you need to help you be successful. Everyone obviously has different needs. But by knowing yourself well, you can connect with those people that can truly be of support. Relationships Are Key One of the difficulties of being in private practice, especially as a solo provider, is that it can quickly become very isolating. Isolation can lead to stagnation and slow growth (We see it all the time with our clients…) But by having significant friendships and business relationships, a person can increase their success exponentially. These are relationships that are deeper and not at all superficial. Parallel Processes One phenomenon of drawing on supports and having "biz besties" is that a parallel process occurs. Much like it is in supervision, by being on parallel or tandem journeys people can learn from each other. Not only learn about others that you are in relationship with, but also learn about yourself from them. Amber mentions that we can have all different kinds of friendships. Friends for a reason, a season or a lifetime. As we know, no single person can be everything to us. We have relationships on a lot of different fronts depending on the context. Be Willing To Put Yourself Out There Not all of us are necessarily wired as "extroverts", like Amber and Maelisa. So it takes a bit of courage to put yourself out there and develop those relationships. But once you take that first step, it becomes easier to connect with a lot of different people. When we know we are not alone, it is easier to take some necessary risks with your practice. Technology Can Keep Us Connected Amber and Maelisa talked about the fact that they live on opposite ends of their state (California) and that distance is really not a problem. They do talk almost daily and bounce ideas off each other. They do however get together frequently since it is only a one flight between their cities. Resources Mentioned Find out about upcoming mini-retreats and an upcoming workshop on networking that Maelisa and Amber will be hosting in the fall at: "My Biz Bestie" - www.mybizbestie.com [amazon_link asins='0887307280' template='ProductGrid' store='POT Sales' marketplace='US' link_id='8858362b-36ab-11e8-8908-b1e2527556c2'] Brighter Vision- Beautiful websites for counselors and therapists Disclaimer: Some of the links above are affiliate links. These just means we receive a commission if you purchase using these links. There is no extra cost to you if you use these links. Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest "Like" us on Facebook.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Rob Reinhardt, LPCS of "Tame Your Practice". Rob and Gordon talk about EHR (Electronic Health Records) and how clinicians might decide which EHR might be the best fit for them in their practices. EHRs can be one of the most important investments a clinician can make in their practice. Rob's expertise is in doing EHR reviews and looking in detail at the features the various EHR's available for practitioners.

In this episode, Gordon talks with Samara Stone, LCSW about having a pro-insurance private practice. Samara is a person you need to know in the private practice realm. Samara teaches so much about work-life balance and is an innovative and inspiring leader in the field of behavioral health. Gordon and Samara share their journeys into private practice and how they came to the decision to be on insurance panels instead of being strictly private pay. Samara's approach is inspirational and encouraging to those of us in this field.

In this episode, Gordon talks about marketing strategies for your counseling and therapy private practices. Ultimately, marketing is about helping people find you and helping you connect with your ideal client. Marketing can be done in two ways, online and offline. Gordon talks about the strategies of doing both and focusing on the ways that fit you and your personality best.

In this episode, Gordon talks with Maureen Werrbach, LCPC about starting a group private practice and how she grown and approached building a large group practice in Chicago, IL. Gordon and Maureen talk about how sharted the Facebook Group, "Group Practice Exchange" and some of the questions that come up for the members of that group. They also talk about the advantages and disadvantages of having 1099 (contractors) vs. W2 (employees).

In this episode, Gordon talks about the balance between the clinical vs. business side of running a private practice. Even though there are some overlaps of clinical processes and business processes, it is usually helpful to keep things separate. Gordon talks about having a good handle on how you spend your time and having processes in place to manage the various aspects of operating a private practice as a counselor, therapist, psychologist or social worker.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Mel K. Whaley about advocacy and help make mental health services more readily available to the people that need it most. Mel talks about several of the projects she has been working on in both the for-profit and non-profit sectors to help providers have better support and improve their performance in the way they run their practices. Mel's main focus has been to use her business background to help clinicians work more efficiently and improve business processes.

In this episode, Gordon talks about using your time and money resources and when to "bootstrap" vs.outsource in private practice. There is a relationship between our time and money assets. The biggest commodity as counselors and therapists have is our time. We trade our time for money. Gordon talks about getting the best ROI for your money by developing a mindset and understanding of your time and its value. Knowing where to focus your efforts depends on which phase of private practice you are in.

In this episode, Gordon talks with Dr. Maelisa Hall from QA Prep about documentation and the common problems clinicians in private practice run into with their paperwork. Maelisa discusses some strategies around staying current with your documentation and getting caught up when you have fallen behind. "Session notes should be thought of as a part of your therapy session". Gordon and Maelisa also talk about some of the challenges of starting a new business/practice and the importance of sticking things out and being persistent with what you do to build a practice.

In this episode Gordon talks with Rachael Norman about helping self-paying clients who want to use their health insurance to pay for your services. The easiest way for practitioners to help people collect out-of-network insurance benefits is to offer a "superbill". Rachael talks about how and why her company developed an app called "Better" that helps clients easily get paid back for their out-of-pocket expenses, using a superbill, from their health insurance.

In this episode, Gordon talks about 11 things therapists, counselors and other mental health clinicians can do to help their private practices succeed in the coming year. From being action oriented to planning and preparing for the long haul, private practice success depends as much as anything on being persistent and consistent. Owning and running a small business takes a lot of knowledge and skill. Gordon discusses these top things he has learned in his years as a private practice owner.

In this episode, Gordon talks with Jim Turner about collections and getting paid in your private practice as a therapist, counselor or other mental health provider. They discuss having client credit cards on file and how to have a system that is secure and reduces liability for the clinician. They talk about how to set this up and then how to present it to clients. Jim talks about having a clear and simple financial policy with clients so that there very few questions about payment expectations.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about how to plan and prepare for private practice growth. Knowing your "numbers", getting the support you need, outsourcing and automating tasks are essential parts of having successful growth and taking your practice to the next level. Whether you are just starting into private practice or already have a practice and thinking about adding other clinicians, it is important to understand the costs or overhead of being in practice. Gordon talks about value of drawing on the support of a mastermind group or coaching. Gordon also discusses why outsourcing and learning to automate things more will give a better return on your time investment.

In this podcast episode Gordon interviews private practice coach and consultant Kelly Higdon, LMFT. They talk about therapists and counselors making the transition into private practice and some of the common barriers people run into in knowing the business side of things. They also talk about the importance of mindset and knowing your numbers (money) and being able to have an honest look at your finances. Gordon and Kelly talk too about the importance of knowing your "why" and your own motivation behind going into private practice. They discuss the importance of having a plan and breaking things down into manageable steps.

In this podcast episode Gordon talks about productivity and time management in private practice. One of the main things that separates really successful private practice owners from those that struggle the most, is how they manage their time and get things done. How many times have you felt overwhelmed with the shear volume of stuff that needs your attention? For me, it happened a lot! So I decided to get a handle on it and look at how I was spending my time and what I could do to better manage not only my time but my productivity. One of the main productivity "hacks" for most people in private practice is to hire a virtual assistant. One of the biggest time killers for anyone in practice is doing follow-ups and answering phone calls. So Gordon has a conversation with his virtual assistant and intake coordinator, Nikki Carey, about what they have learned together about managing intakes and helping Gordon spend his time on things that truly need his attention and expertise.

In this podcast episode Gordon has a conversation with Cecilia Briseno, LCSW and her unique niche of working with clients who are navigating the immigration process. In particular the difficulty of families being separated during this whole process. Gordon and Cecilia talk about making the transition from working for an agency to private practice. Cecilia tells about how she started into private practice and doing it in a cost effective way. They discuss being able to prepare financially for that transition. Cecilia also talks about how she has been able to diversify her income streams in her practice through providing evaluations.

In this podcast episode Gordon has a conversation with John Clarke from Private Practice Workshop and Unconditional Media. Gordon and John talk about online marketing for your private practice and some of the strategies and ways to market. John talks about some of the different philosophies of marketing and how these can be applied to private practice. John and Gordon also talk about branding and how that differs from advertising and some strategies for creating a private practice "brand". They talk about the importance of being able to connect with potential clients and communicate to them about how you can help them with their problems. Ultimately marketing is about getting you and your private practice in front of potential clients and communicating to them about how you will help them.

In this podcast episode Gordon has a conversation with Joe Sanok from the Practice of the Practice Podcast. Joe and Gordon talk about scaling and "leveling up" your private practice and the ways the counselors, therapists and mental health clinicians can take their practices to the next level. They talk about the importance of having mentors and coaching in helping with growth and scaling your private practice. Joe and Gordon also talk about making the transition from agency work into private practice and the different phases of starting, growing and scaling your practice.Joe speaks to how a person should be spending their time and resources during these different stages. They discuss learning how to maximize your time by learning to spend it on things that will move you forward rather than hold you down. By focusing on your ROI (return on investment) of both your time and money will help you take your practice to the next level. Joe and Gordon also talk about mindset in private practice and not letting yourself get "petrified by perfection".

In the podcast interview, Gordon talks with Danielle Kepler about insurance credentialing and billing in private practice as a therapist, counselor, social worker or other mental health clinicians. Danielle speaks to some of the advantages and disadvantages of being credentialed with insurance companies and accepting insurance in your private practice.Gordon and Danielle talk about how they decided to be on insurance panels and why they did not go strictly private pay in their practices. Danielle also talks about being your own biller and how to make the process simpler and less intimidating. They discuss how to start the process of becoming credentialed with insurance companies and some strategies around getting on insurance panels. Danielle Kepler, LCPC is the founder and "head insurance guru" at Be Your Own Biller, LLC, where she offers consultation to business owners, solo practitioners, and non-profits local to Chicago and across the nation. Be Your Own Biller's mission is to empower clinicians and demystify the insurance credentialing and billing world so they do not need to hire a long-term credentialing or billing service. She co-hosts a podcast dedicated to insurance credentialing and billing called Insurance Answers Podcast. In addition to consulting, she is a clinical therapist and has a private practice in downtown Chicago. In her private practice, she primarily sees adults who are struggling with anxiety and depression as well as couples. She is paneled with over 30 private insurance companies/EAPs and does her own credentialing and billing. Learn more at www.beyourownbiller.com. Listeners can sign up for a free CPT Cheat Sheet when signing up for my e-mail list via my website. I just came out with a bunch of useful products, one including Ins and Outs of Insurance Verification E-Book™ and another a Credentialing Starter Kit™ www.beyourownbiller.com/products. I am not offering free Be Your Own Biller Quick Tips via my FB page and group and am in the process of developing courses on insurance credentialing and billing.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Daniel Fava about building your own private practice website and how have effective website design that is user friendly and easy to navigate. Gordon and Daniel also talk about why someone might want to build their own website verses having a web designer do the work. They also cover common website design mistakes and how to increase SEO (search engine optimization) Daniel Fava is a web designer and founder of CreateMyTherapistWebsite.com. Daniel teaches therapists how to create websites and attract more clients online. After building a website for his wife's private practice and seeing the impact it had on her business, he became passionate about helping others achieve the same. Daniel offers web design services, consultations and online training to help therapists overcome tech-fears and grow their business through online marketing. You can get free access to his library of PDFs, cheat sheets, and e-books by clicking here.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy podcast Gordon talks with Clay Cockrell, LCSW about online counseling and building a private practice using online services. Gordon and Clay discuss how being able to add online therapy as an option for clients, can be a great way to reach people who need our services but find it difficult to reach our offices. Gordon and Clay talk some about the logistics of providing online therapy and some of its limitations due to state regulations. They also discuss how providing online counseling can have global reach and give people a way to connect with professionals in some of the remote areas of the world. Clay Cockrell, LCSW is a therapist based in New York City and is the founder of several counseling oriented endeavors. Clay is the person behind OnlineCounselling.com, a listing directory with the mission of helping clients all over the world to find the therapist or life coach that will best meet their needs. The site also works through their educational resources and podcasts to help counselors work online in an ethical, responsible and legal manner. A majority of proceeds from the site are donated to non-profit arts.

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast Gordon interviews Roy Huggins about tech, HIPAA, self-care and the business side of private practice. Roy talks about his private practice journey and how he was able to use his business and technology background to start Person-Centered Tech. Roy also talks about the ethics of using our technology and doing it in a way that protects clients and keeps their information secure. Gordon and Roy talk about the difference between being "HIPAA compliant" vs. "HIPAA secure". They also discuss the importance of financial self-care in private practice and why it is important for clinicians to be prepared for the constant technology changes that come with running a private practice. Also making and charging enough to support yourself and keep your practice viable. Meet Roy Huggins Roy Huggins, LPC NCC, is a counselor in private practice who also directs Person-Centered Tech. Roy worked as a professional Web developer for 7 years before changing paths, and makes it his mission to grow clinicians' understanding of the Internet and other electronic communications mediums for the future of our practices and our professions. Roy is an adjunct instructor at the Portland State University Counseling program where he teaches Ethics, and is a member of the Zur Institute advisory board. He has acted as a subject matter expert on HIPAA, security and clinical use of technology for Counseling licensure boards and both state and national mental health professional organizations. He has co-authored or authored 2 book chapters, and he routinely consults with mental health colleagues on ethical and practical issues surrounding tech in clinical practice. He served for 5 years on the board of the Oregon Mental Health Counselors Association and then the Oregon Counseling Association as the Technology Committee Chair. He really likes this stuff! Visit the Practice of Therapy: http://practiceoftherapy.com for more show notes and links

In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Allison Puryear, LCSW about marketing your private practice. Knowing how to market a private practice as a counselor, therapist, social worker or psychologist is essential in growing and building a successful practice. Gordon and Allison discuss some of the mindset changes we need when it comes to marketing. Marketing really comes down to building relationships through both networking and your online presence. Meet Allison Allison Puryear, LCSW is the person behind Abundance Practice Building (abundancepracticebuilding.com and abunDanceparty.com) and is private practice coach and consultant. She also is in private practice in Asheville, NC. She consults with counselors wanting to start or optimize private practices. Having had successful practices in 3 states, with pauses for 2 maternity leaves, she has private practice building experience in spades and loves to share what works.

In this session of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon has a conversation with Jane Carter, LPC about "Money Mindset" and how it can affect us in our private practices. Jane talks about the importance of having an abundance vs. scarcity mindset in being able to overcome some of our fears about money and what to charge clients. Jane Carter, LPC is a counselor and coach who is committed to helping therapists have more money, fun, and freedom in their practice. She focuses on a mix of both strategy and mindset to help private practitioners feel inspired in their work, to use their creativity, and to successfully balance the roles of clinician & entrepreneur. Jane is the founder of Brew Your Practice coaching and events, and is a speaker, writer, world-traveler, coffee-shop connoisseur, and local-craft-beer-snob. She can be reached at www.BrewYourPractice.com and www.JaneCarterCounseling.net.

Part of learning new things in private practice requires us to fail at different times in our careers. In fact we do have to get outside our comfort zones to grow and learn. In this episode Dr. David Hall talks about what he has learned about private practice not only through his successes, but from his failures. Dr. S. David Hall is a LMFT and LPC in practice in Knoxville, TN. He is the Executive Director of Haven Family Psychiatry, an outpatient psychiatric clinic in Knoxville. David is also the founder of the Narrative Institute, a continuing education group that puts on workshops and seminars, and is the head of business development and long-term strategic planning for Basis Health Group, a telepsychiatry practice providing services in multiple states. For more information, visit www.davidhallmft.com.

Session 003: Business Models and Business Plans in Private Practice In this session, Gordon talks about the difference between business models and business plans in private practice. Also discusses the importance of each.

Session 002: Growing Your Private Practice with the 3 "P's" In this session, Gordon talks about growing your practice by having a plan, being persistent and having patience.

Session 001 of the Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer: In this episode, Gordon talks about his journey into private practice as a therapist and why he started the Practice of Therapy blog and podcast. Also Gordon talks about the importance of knowing your "why"