Many of you are interested in how to start receiving private practice referrals from physicians.  A great professional relationship with a few well-established physicains can fill your practice quickly.  Here are X steps to initiate physician referrals:

1.  Do evidence-based interventions for problems doctors requently see in their offices.  You do not need to do manualized work, but be up-to-date on the latest research and "what works."  Focus on treating anxiety, depression, stress, lack of focus, children's behavior, managing chronic pain or illness. 

2.  Follow-up with your current clients PCPs (with their permission, of course).  Get written permission from your current clients to contact their primary care docs to coordinate care.  Then follow up with a simple letter stating that you are seeing their patient to treat their condition, goals for the treatment and recommendations for continued therapeutic or medical follow up.

3.  Write brief letters of introduction to those physicians you would like to work with. Keep these short and to the point. State who you are, your specialty, clients you work with. You want to clearly articulate how your services can help the doctor and his/her patients.  This letter should not be a summary of your credentials.

4.  When you start to receive referrals from doctors, develop a system to consistently follow up with them regarding their patients as outlined in #2 above. Do this consistently and watch the referrals role in.

5. Be really good at what you do. Be client friendly, return calls, have an attractive office.  Your clients will tell their doctors about your great treatment and great service (I call this developing "raving fans")and THAT is what allows doctors to trust you are taking good care of their patients, which encourages more referrals.