Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

When should you hire your first assistant? 

If you hire people that are smarter than you, then your business is going to grow. Also, think about your ability to do things. As a therapist, there are tons of things to do. We need to support our clients, answer the phones, set up our website, SEO, respond to emails, create content, manage our social media, and a bunch of other stuff. At some point, you need to take a step back and say, "I don't know how to do all of it." It's okay! 

We need to take a step back and think about how we can invest in our business by allocating tasks. It will make a huge difference when you give tasks to people who are very capable of doing them. First, identify all of the tasks that you have in your business. Think about the creative tasks that you do, like research, design, and content creation. Think about the technical jobs you do, like setting up your systems, setting up your email, and setting up your website.

Then, look at your earnings and think about how many hours of work that you do. Now, think about how much time you spend on all of the tasks that you listed. Let's say you do ten hours of website design each week. That's the time you are donating with the hope that it will have ROI. Those are ten hours you could spend with clients making money. If you paid someone for those ten hours, would you make enough money in return? 

When you hire someone, they only have to wear one hat. If you do many tasks in your business, how much will you spend to become an expert in those tasks? You probably do not spend a lot of time becoming an expert in everything. With your clinical tasks, technical tasks, and administrative tasks, there is no way you'll have time to become an expert in each of those areas. In addition, you won't make the same amount of money in each of those areas. Your trade is as a clinician; that's how you make money. Whenever you aren't doing clinical work, then you aren't making money.

Overall, focus on your clinical work and pay for your assistant. That way, you'll build infrastructure, and you are no longer working IN the business. Instead, you are working ON the business. Eventually, you can lower your hours and do the extra things you want to do, like writing books, starting a podcast, or spending more time with your family. It's a process to get here, but hiring an assistant is a step in the right direction.

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

Danielle Blessing Taylor is a Licensed Marital and Family Therapist in DC, MD, VA, and PA who has been providing therapy since 2010 and has built her ever-growing private practice which was created in 2015. In addition to specializing in Telehealth, she also specializes in helping individuals, families, and couples to cultivate healthy relationships. She helps people to make sense of their past and create healthy changes for a happier life within themselves and in relationships with others.

Danielle dives deep into what it takes to start a private practice. 

First, get set up with your logistics. Make sure you have a business address so you can get mail and bill for insurance panels. Get your LLC; whether you go on insurance or not, you will need to have this. Also, you will need your tax number and NPI number. Don't forget to choose your business name, sign up for an EHR, and figure out how you will start a website. Think about Office 365, so you will have access to both Word and Excel. Lastly, get your business credit cards. Once you start paying for different things, you can write them off and keep it organized. 

Picking A Business Name

Danielle has some extra tips for choosing the right business name for your private practice. Are you planning on hiring for a group practice down the line? If so, then have something that is more general. Also, when people are searching on the internet, consider having keywords in your name. For instance, if you are a marriage and family therapy counselor, you can make sure those terms are in your business name. If the practice is simply under your name, it could be more challenging for people to find it when they do a simple Google search. Another strategy is including your town name in the practice name. "Greensboro Counseling Practice," for instance. It will be easier for people to find you who are local to the area. 

Educate Yourself On Insurance

Learn the different things that come with insurance. Make sure you know how to bill using the modifiers for telehealth. Some private practice owners think insurance is a headache. However, once you get it going, it can be easy. You need to know what to ask for from your clients. Danielle says to keep your mind open to it because it will give you a decent number of clients. Also, it could help with your marketing. If you want to help people who can't go out of pocket, then taking insurance will be essential. Maybe the people in your area cannot afford out of pocket costs, so insurance may be necessary when starting your private practice. 

Tune in as Danielle gives loads more tips on starting your private practice.

Danielle’s Website

Call Danielle: (202) 759-6107

Email Danielle: [email protected]

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

This episode is all about SEO. First, check how fast your website is loading. Make sure that your website is loading at a sufficient speed. Get on your phone right now and load your website. How long does it take to load it? Does it make you feel like you want to wait, or does it make you feel like you want to do something else? Our clients have expectations of the online space, and it's no different than our own. 

Next, connect with relevant websites. The work you put into SEO will rank your website higher. If your practice is all about relationship counseling, it will be advantageous for you to connect with other websites and podcasts relevant to yours. For instance, I have A Counselor's Journey To Private Practice podcast linked to my website. There are guest episodes that I have done, like The Practice of Therapy. I link all of these. That way, it will rank me higher when someone does a Google search. Take time to be a guest on other people's blogs that focus on relationship support. Find podcasts that support relationships that you can be a guest on.

Now, do some internal linking. For instance, I have courses that help people with their journey to private practice. I will link my courses on the homepage. It shows the online world that internal linking is going on, making it easier for my website to get ranked higher.

Identify your keywords. A short keyword would be "relationship counseling." A long keyword would be "relationship counseling near me." Keywords will help with SEO. Keywords have to do with what your clients are searching for. People will pull out their phones and ask for "counseling near me." Then, Google will populate a list of websites that might interest that person. So, you want to be on that first page when your ideal client Googles you. Keywords can improve your SEO. Do some DIY marketing and figure out which keywords would be useful for you.

Once you know your keywords, figure out how relevant those keywords will rank; those keywords have a specific ranking when you Google something. For instance, "marriage counseling" might be high on the list, whereas "relationship therapy" is a medium rate. Some other keywords might have a low rate. That's why it's important to have keyword knowledge. A marketing specialist should be able to give you feedback. Once you identify keywords that your ideal client is searching for, then use those words for content on your website. 

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

Visit http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/
Watch the episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/z7EpLljC82I
Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

If you haven't already, give part one a listen: Website Facelift Part 1 of 3 | Episode 37. It's all about giving your homepage a facelift.

For today, we are going to look at pages on your website. Your clients should land your website, have a beautiful experience, and know that you are the right therapist for them. Plus, before a client shows up, they should have a good idea about their therapist. So, here are some key pages that you need on your website:

-      Overview of Services Page. Make sure you steer away from clinical jargon. This page will be the central hub and should have a detailed explanation of your services. Images can help break up the text, so it's easy to read. The person should then click on a particular service, and that will take them to another page. Also, be sure to include common questions and the answers to those questions. 

-      Specific Service Pages. Once the potential client clicks on a service, it will take them to that specific service page. For instance, if you provide anxiety counseling, then list that on the main services page. Then, you will have an anxiety counseling page. On this page, you can go into loads of details. You can have information about fees and how often you will meet. There can even be a video about what they can expect in their first session. Make sure that you have a call to action like schedule an appointment or a contact form. 

-      Contact Us Page. On there, include a location map so people can see where you are in town. Also, make sure there is a contact form for people who want to get in touch with you. That way, if they don't feel like calling, you still get their information. Plus, it provides a high level of service. If a potential client has questions, they might not have time to get on the phone. A contact form makes it easy for people.

-      Common Questions. This page should answer any and every question that potential clients will have. Write down the questions on a sheet of paper, then write down the answer to each of those questions. Some of the most questions include insurance, fees, and confidentiality. However, it will depend on your practice and your ideal client. Find a fluid way to provide them with the answers.

-      Resource Page. A lot of practices don't have this page. However, it is essential from a business perspective. If your client struggles with anxiety, then the resource page can be helpful for them.

Overall, with our website, there are a lot of purposes to keep in mind. First, we need to answer people's questions. Second, we need to get people from point A to point B. 

Take my 5 Days To A Strong Referral Network Course.

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business? CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

 Please leave an excellent review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

 I'm always looking for excellent counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

 Visit http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/

 Watch the episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/A_dVzhKezS8

Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

Your website is where people get to see who you are. It’s time that your website has a facelift. This episode is all about your homepage and getting conversions. Here are some changes we need to think about when it comes to optimizing your homepage:

1.    Images and videos. It’s essential to have clean images and clean videos. If you have a picture on your homepage, it should look like a professional picture. It needs to look like something that you invested in. Photos from home can be cute, but it's not something you want on your counseling website. Think about your images, are they clean, professional, and something you proud of? Also, the videos should have good lighting and good sound.

2.    Include a scene that connects to your practice. If you have an image on your homepage, it should connect to your private practice or group practice. For a private practice, it can be a picture of you. It lets your clients know that you are the counselor they will be working with. That way, your client won't be guessing who they are working with, and it allows them to have peace of mind about finding a therapist. If you have a group practice, the picture should be of your staff. On my homepage, I have a picture of my staff and me that way, people know it's a team.  

3.    Call to action. A call to action can be a phone number on your homepage, a link to ask questions, a link to schedule an appointment, a link to learn more about a service, or a contact form. Maybe you sell products or a course, there could be a link to that. The calls to action should be present on the homepage. However, you shouldn’t have too many. If a potential client is there for a counseling session, do you want them to buy your book instead? It could be steering them away from the schedule button. Have three calls to action at most. 

4.    Question and answer. When you think about questions and answers, think about common problems that clients ask you. For me, patients ask me how much a session will cost, how long therapy will take, and if the sessions are virtual. These are typical questions a client could think about. So, on your homepage, think about the most common questions. More than likely, when a client is reaching out to you, they will be thinking about those questions. When you create your website, you want to come from a place of service and wanting to make it easy. That way, no one will get stuck in their ability to make decisions.

5.    Theme. Your font, font size, and colors should look similar throughout your homepage. If it's not identical, it will look messy, and the reader will not have a good experience. Plus, your website should have similar colors throughout the website. I use dark green because it brings me a sense of calmness. I also have a yellow color that runs with it because it has good contrast. I also use white because it helps the wording pop out. That way, people can read it easily.  

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

Visit http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/
Watch the episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/f9IB1drE5I4
Visit the website: http://acounselorsj

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

What is the cost of running a private practice? 

You need an idea of what the startup cost looks like. First, is there a specific number to start a counseling practice? The answer is: it depends. Here are some essential items that you are going to have to figure out when starting your private practice:

1.   Your place of practice. There are different avenues you can go down. People might want their own office suite with a waiting room. This could essentially run you $3,000 in rent. Another route is renting office space from someone else. 

2.   Covering your butt. Insurance is a must-have! It can be a decent amount of money. Typically, it can range from $200 to $1,000. It depends on the size of your practice. If you have a group practice, that will increase the charge.

3.   Marketing. This is a startup cost. Organic marketing is reaching out to other counselors in the area and making relationships. One expense is buying your new contact a cup of coffee. Over some time, those coffees will add up.

4.   Directories. PsychologyToday  charges $29.99. You are paying a directory to put your name out there and market you to the field. If you haven't done so already, visit ACounselorsJourney.com. I have created a FREE course about building a kick-ass Psychology Today profile. That way, you will be able to build a solid caseload and increase your revenue. 

5.   Technology. You want to look at the startup costs for your work phone, computer, and tablet. Your computer may cost $200 or $1,000. 

6.   Internet. Keep in mind how much your internet will cost each month. This can be $20 a month or $100 a month.

7.   Physical materials. This includes your flyers, business cards, and pamphlets. 

8.   Your furniture. Where are you going to sit? Think about how much you want to invest in your chairs, desk, and tables.

9.   License. Maintaining your license and doing continuing your education will cost you money each year. Calculate how much that will cost you each year.

10. Printer. A printer will come in handy whether you are printing receipts for your clients or marketing materials. You can probably get a used printer for $50 or a new printer for well over $1,000.

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.
http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/

Transform Your Psychology Today Profile: https://immigration-evaluation-training.teachable.com/p/transformyourpsychologytoday

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

Cassandra Peterson-Solano is a licensed social worker and spiritual enthusiast. When she's not running around with her four kids or drinking kombucha with her sweet husband, Cassandra is all about helping people who are single or unhappy in their relationships FIND THE LOVE THEY WANT with psychological intervention + spiritual healing.

 Cassandra says that even if you see clients once or twice a week, it will help you understand that you can generate income independently. A few years ago, Cassandra had a women's circle in her backyard. She made $12. She was so excited! Then, Cassandra dives deep into how attachment theory can affect our businesses and private practices. 

Attachment Theory

Attachment theory is how we were cared for, nurtured, responded to, heard, seen, and held space for by our parents and caregivers. Your upbringing will directly shape how we do it for ourselves, our relationships, and our business. Attachment is often related to our romantic relationships. However, it can be connected to anything in our lives. 

Anxious Attachment

If you identify as someone with an anxious attachment style – you anticipate abandonment; it will be challenging to start a business. For example, if you put an offer out on the internet, and no one responds, then you are going to think, "nevermind!" You may need validation and approval. If you don't get likes on your post, you may feel like you're not good enough. 

Avoidant Attachment 

If you are somebody with an avoidant attachment style, you may rely on yourself and be a 1 person team. You can probably be productive in your business. However, close relationships may not be your strong point. Just like you build trust and rapport with your clients, you build trust and rapport with strangers. So, you might post and ghost. That way, you won't be able to see the response that you get on social media. 

Build Relationships

Listening to entrepreneurial podcasts outside of the therapy world can help with your business. "Dumb is better than perfect" is a saying that you'll hear a lot. Sometimes, we don't trust ourselves as an authority on our subject. It's all about our mindset. What makes someone knowledgeable, helpful, and an expert? You don't need all the degrees on the wall or a certain amount of years of experience. You can be an authority! It doesn't matter what your background is. The primary way we can make a difference in someone else's life is through our relationships. It's essential to do our inner work and know that there will always be people behind you on the journey and people ahead of you. 

Cassandra’s Website: https://www.cassandrasolano.com

Cassandra’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassandra_solano

Cassandra’s Email: [email protected]

 Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business? 

CLICK HERE: http://acounselorsjourney.com/private-practice-coaching/

Thank you for listening.

 Please leave an excellent review and subscribe to the podcast to never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for excellent counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

Visit http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/

Watch the episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/PisyoAI4Dbo

Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

14 Day Trial Of Self-Care For Your Private Practice | Episode 34

Have you ever felt mentally exhausted? 

I want you to highlight the question: am I practicing self-care?

When is the last time you took a break? When is the last time you took your whole lunch?

Self-care directly highlights your success. If you have a high level of self-care, you will be more present. You will be able to look at your marketing plan and know why you are doing what you are doing. 

While on the other hand, if you’re running around like a chicken with its head cut off, it’s hard to see what you’re doing. It’s easy to feel the struggle and feel overwhelmed. So, today I want to give you something to practice. For the next fourteen days, I want you to try out these strategies. If you feel better, you’ll be more effective as a private practice owner.

1.    Give yourself sufficient time to have your meals. Do not rush through your meal. Do not be on your phone answering client emails while eating. If it’s a chicken sandwich, enjoy your chicken sandwich. Everything else can wait. 

2.    Give yourself a structure for waking up and going to sleep. Set a bedtime and a wake-up time. This will give you consistency in your life. 

3.    Implement physical fitness. This routine should be at least five days a week. Make sure you have at least twenty to thirty minutes of exercise. Fitness can mean walking around the neighborhood or do at-home exercises. This will have you feeling better and feeling stronger. 

4.    Set boundaries. Give yourself boundaries when you are checking your emails and social media. When I started a private practice, I would check my emails right when I woke up. Then, I would find myself doing the same thing right before I went to bed—set boundaries for checking these things.

5.    Give yourself time with your significant others. Significant others can mean your friends or your partners. Also, giving yourself this time shouldn't be once a month. These relationships are what allow you to be you. The more energy you cultivate, the more effective you will be. So, make sure you have a daily or weekly time set aside.

6.    Practice taking care of your home. I like to cut the grass. Maybe you need to do laundry, get the baseboards clean, or sweep. If you skip this, you will find yourself sitting at your desk and seeing a pile of laundry. When you see that pile of laundry, it rubs you the wrong way. When you look at it, it doesn't make you feel good. Sometimes, I'll rush through my work so I can get my chores done. Instead, create consistency within your life so you can see that the house is already clean. 

All I’m asking is for you to implement these strategies for fourteen days. Then, reach out to me! Let me know what this has done for you – what’s the transformation?

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

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Watch the episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/PisyoAI4Dbo
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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

 Actions To Build A Solid Referral System In Private Practice

 There are five actions you can take ASAP to build solid referrals and success in your private practice. 

1.    Identify your ideal client. Think about your ideal client in as much detail as you can. Write down their name, and write down their presenting concern. For instance, his name is Juan and he can’t sleep. Then, write down how long Juan has been exhibiting this behavior. Also, write down Juan’s goals. For example, maybe Juan wants to have better relationships and learn how to tame his anxiety. Once you have the ideal client, then think about one or two sentences that define how you will work with your ideal client: “I help men who struggle with anxiety.”

2.    Identify potential referral partners. You can find them through your license and how far you are willing to expand. For instance, I’m in Greensboro, North Carolina. If I am seeing people face-to-face, my distance will be the city of Greensboro and neighboring towns. If I am seeing people virtually, I can see the entire state of North Carolina. Which one fits you better? Once you determine that, create an Excel sheet to keep track of your referral requests. If you work with anxious men, find a counselor that works with families. That family counselor can refer to you and vice versa when necessary. 

3.    Make your pitch. I like to be authentic with my pitch. At your core, you’re a clinician and you’re here to support people. Write down what you would say to your potential referral partner. Come from a place to help your referral partner – it should be supportive. Tell them that you want to connect with their patients that struggle with anxiety. First, start with an introduction and explain that you would make a fit. Ask about their referral process. Lastly, look for an opportunity to break bread with them. It will allow you to cultivate the relationship even deeper. Eventually, you’ll start the referral process. 

4.    Follow up with a thank you. Time comes with immense value. I try and write everything via hand. I appreciate the value that comes with writing a note. Give a handwritten thank you card. Tell them that you are thankful and you want to continue to grow the relationship. 

5.    Build your practice. As you build your practice through other avenues, you’ll build clientele. Think of clients that will fit the other person’s practice. If a client first the other practice, reach out to the clinician and send the referral over. It lets that person know you are coming from a place of service. More than likely, the clinician will do the same for you. You are supporting your patient and allowing a relationship to build between you and that counselor. 

Repeat this process as much as you can. You are coming from a place of service – try it out and see how it goes!

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

Visit http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/
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Welcome to A Counselors Journey To Private Practice. I'm your host, Juan.

Carla Kucinski works with adults ages 18 and older, focusing on trauma, chronic illness, depression, and anxiety. Carla has also worked with clients who are experiencing common concerns such as self-esteem, burnout, life transitions, relationship concerns, and women's issues. She especially enjoys working with college students.

Take a step back and evaluate your life. Do you have a stressful job? Are you taking on more responsibilities than you can handle? Carla realized her job was stressing her out. In fact, it was literally making her sick. She had a massive amount of health issues from all of the stress. It pushed her in the direction of making changes in her life. You can't keep going on if you are stressed out every single day.

Carla is an optimist, sometimes to a fault. It's critical to be confident and optimistic when starting a private practice. If you have done a lot of scary things, you are probably more confident than you think. When things scare you, it's something to pay attention to. Why does it seem dangerous to you? Perhaps it's because you want it so bad, and you're afraid that it's not going to work out. Fear has a way of pushing you to do things. Say yes, and figure it out as you go. Private practice can be scary, but it's essential to keep moving through the fears.

As a writer, Carla has a blog on her website. She loves to create posts for social media and her website. Plus, Carla has certifications in marketing. That knowledge comes in handy when marketing her practice – it helps her find the clients that she wants to see. If you don't have a marketing background, Carla has some ideas about how you can reach out to the clients you know you can serve. There are three things that Carla has learned:

1. Figure out who your ideal client is. Who are you trying to reach?
2. Speak to your ideal client. Know what their needs are. What do they struggle with? Speak about their struggles and the ways that they can overcome them.
3. Marketing is a connection. If you can write from your heart and be yourself, then people will find it. Share the knowledge that you have to help your ideal client.

Clinicians are taught to connect with others – we are the best connectors in the world. So, use those tools and connect with your ideal clients. We should be pushing against the rules. Yes, don't overshare with your clients – that can be unethical. However, you can share your similar pain points. For instance, Carla talks about her personal journey with clients. However, there's a delicate balance between knowing what you are comfortable with and too much vulnerability.

Space to Heal Counseling: https://spacetohealcounseling.com

Follow Carla on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rise.thrive.shine/

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave an awesome review and subscribe to the podcast so that you never miss an episode in your journey of private practice.

I'm always looking for awesome counselors that are ready to share their story. Visit the link below, let's connect.

Visit http://acounselorsjourney.com/be-a-guest/
Watch the episode on the YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/PisyoAI4Dbo
Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

Support the show