Where Making Money and Making a Difference Come Together

Let's face facts: It is hard to make a living in private practice if all you do is see clients face-to-face and accept health insurance reimbursements. Yes, some psychotherapists have successful practices and do not take managed care, but most of these folks live in or near a city or other densely populated area. Or, [...]

For some reason psychologists and other mental health professionals are slow to embrace technology and the internet as important private practice building tools. So let me just say this straight out–you need a web site. If you are just starting out, put "Develop a Website" at the top of your marketing "to do" list. If [...]

Business Plan.  These two words can derail the most enthusiastic of hope-to-be private practice owners.  When I started researching business plans I got stopped in my tracks because all the reading I did was on these long, muti-page, detailed documents that outlined financial forcasts and incorporation plans.  Whew! Just writing about it now makes me [...]

It seems the health insurers are trying to launch a pre-emptive strike before the Obama adminstration mandates universal health care.  Amazing how this happens when those in power make the welfare of all a priority and mandatory.  I’m sure the insurance companies benefit from their proposed plan, but at least it is a step in [...]

Back in my graduate school days I recall my ethics professor warning us about the pitfalls of advertising or marketing psychotherapy services.  The general message was that marketing is not something psychologists do for fear of misleading, or misinforming current or potential clients about what we do or how we do it.That was the extent [...]

Do you have a private practice niche?  Are you an expert in a specific treatment population or approach?  If not, you should start to think about establishing your niche. Why is a practice niche, or specialization important?  Let me count the ways (or whys, in this case): 1.  A niche allows you to become an [...]

Are you thinking about starting your own mental health practice?  Maybe you are newly licensed, or have worked for other institutions and groups for awhile.  From my own experience I can attest that owning your own practice is a wonderful adventure that gives you professional and personal rewards far beyond working for others to earn [...]