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

I have a big hammer because I am about to break down all the myths to starting a private practice. Are you struggling a little bit with starting a private practice? Maybe you're trying to figure out how to make moves. Perhaps you are struggling with making decisions that will create a robust infrastructure within your private practice. It's time that I break down these myths that are slowing you down. So, that's what we're going to do today. This episode is going to be short and sweet. That way, it's black and white, clear, and we get right to the point. 

So whenever we look at starting a private practice, the first myth I want us to look at is this idea of if I'm good at my work, then people will start working with me. There's this myth that if you do all of your clinical work, if you check all of those boxes, then you're going to have a full practice. Sadly, it doesn't always work that way. When we go into private practice, we do so much work on our certifications and our licensure and getting all that credibility and specializing deep. Unfortunately, no one comes in, and I see it over and over.

The second myth is that we need to be an extrovert to be a great marketer. When it comes to building a private practice, we have this myth that we need to be an extrovert. I'm here to tell you that you do not need to be an extrovert. Do you know what you need to be? YOU! Your genuine self and your authentic self because your clients connect to you. The people I work with love connecting to me – they tell me that we have a great relationship. My clients feel like they have known me for years. I'm sure that the people that you work with resonate in that same way with you. 

There are millions of people out here in this world. If one person tells you that you are the right fit for them, that's amazing. There is no doubt in my mind that there is an entire tribe of individuals just like that one person that will relate to you. So let's just throw that myth outside the window. You don't need to be an extrovert; you don't need to be an introvert; you don't need to be fluid in any of those directions. My friends, you need to be YOU - your genuine, authentic self. You need to feel empowered and shine bright! 

Tune in as I reveal and bust myth number three! 

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Thank you for listening.

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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.

Today is all about marketing! Let's buckle up, hold hands, and go on a journey together. After all, this podcast is called A Counselor's Journey To Private Practice. Today, it's going to be this lovely trail. As we get ready to go – we need to talk about marketing strategies. These marketing strategies are easy to implement because all you have to do is jump on them! All you have to do is say: "I'm going to take this risk." 

Some significant walls stop a lot of practitioners when it comes to marketing. We didn't go to business school because we studied mental health programs. So, we didn't get that knowledge about entrepreneurship, taking risks, and working smarter. When it comes to marketing, we all get wary because we don't know what's going to happen. 

So what I'd love to share with you is that it's time to just do it. Marketing does not need to be perfect, it's not that it needs to look great. Start where you're at. What's beautiful about marketing is not knowing where you're going to be tomorrow. Marketing is a stepping stone to where you're going to be tomorrow. If you throw a marketing strategy, it's all about giving yourself the gift of kindness. 

The first strategy I want to go over today is utilizing free trials for paid directories. There are many of these out there; these directories are where you can showcase your counseling skills. The most significant directory that we all think about in Psychology Today. Your profile is a small glimpse of how the world sees you. Out of graduate school, I approached my Psychology Today with the idea of checking every box and sharing my educational expertise. I thought this was what I needed to put down to build my caseload. However, that’s not how it works.

I have a course that gives you exactly what you need to know to transform your profile and get the most out of the money you are spending on Psychology Today.

Check it out here: https://immigration-evaluation-training.teachable.com/p/transformyourpsychologytoday

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Please leave a wonderful 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://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpH3QleIl-DNDklzoNSvbTA
Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

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

 This episode is all about addressing the fear of jumping into private practice. Plus, we talk about what's going on with clinicians during the pandemic and the mental health struggles worldwide. 

About Alison

I am a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Supervisor (LCMHCS) in North Carolina (License #S13244) and a National Certified Counselor (Certification #226055). I have worked providing clinical counseling services in both outpatient and inpatient settings since 2007, with an emphasis on trauma work and crisis intervention.

I earned my Ph.D. in Counseling and Counselor Education from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG) in 2014. I also hold M.S. and Ed.S. degrees in Community Counseling from UNCG (2007) and a B.S. in Psychology from Davidson College (2004). My graduate programs are all accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP).

Life After Grad School 

There wasn't that strong teaching of what it would be like after grad school when you become a clinician. We didn't learn about burnout. Sometimes burnout catches up with us before we even realize what's happened. Also, we didn't learn the importance of taking a step back and seeing if we are living life in the way that we want to live it. If not, then it would be time to make changes as a clinician. Unfortunately, it's easier said than done.

Understanding Your Private Practice Fears

When we understand our own feelings of fear, then we can know where our thoughts are coming from in our business. Fear is a really uncomfortable thing to experience, and it deters us from doing a lot of things that could be worth it. When you start to think about fear a little bit differently – we can lean into it and accept it is just part of who we are and succeed in business. 

After all, fear is part of our body's natural feedback system, wired in our brain. The feelings that we struggle with most are a natural part of who we are. When there's something that feels like a significant risk or feels very scary, it can be helpful to reframe that. Fear is there to tell us that this is important and that maybe there are times in the past where we have taken similar risks, and it hasn't turned out as well. However, that doesn't mean this decision isn't going to work out! 

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Thank you for listening.

Allison’s website: https://www.allisonpowcounseling.com/

Call Allison: 336.203.8699

Email Allison: [email protected]

Follow Allison on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/allisonpowcounseling/

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://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpH3QleIl-DNDklzoNSvbTA
Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

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

 Rebecca Toner Is A Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur | Episode 48

 About Rebecca Toner

 Rebecca Toner, MA, LPC is a group private practice owner, clinical supervisor, EMDR consultant-in-training, and host of the Supportive SuperVision Podcast. She specializes in trauma work and combines both her clinical practice of EMDR and her clinical supervision/consultation practice with an Internal Family Systems model. She’s a multi-passionate entrepreneur whose mission is to help heal as many lives as possible through direct clinical practice, supervision, and EMDR consulting.

 Supervision as a Niche

If you build a private practice, you can build a supervision practice. Many people are worried about supervising other people. To supervise, you need to be comfortable explaining how someone could improve. Give your clinicians permission to be human – no one is perfect, and mistakes happen. As a supervisor, show up and be human. Make the people you are supervising feel safe. 

How Do You Know If You're Ready To Be A Supervisor?

Usually, there are people way less qualified than we are doing what we want to do. There's no way to work up through the ranks to supervisor in private practice. So, think about sitting through some continuing education. When you go through training, then you will start to feel more comfortable. Most clinicians are ready to become supervisors. It's just a matter of finding the confidence to start. 

Everyone has one or two things that they are very good at. If you're good at helping clients with boundaries, think about how you can advise other clinicians. That way, you will start to build confidence. Plus, when you are in a supervisor role, you are merely giving suggestions. The clinician can listen to you, but if they don't, then that's okay. Other people can learn a lot from you! Start putting it out there – even if it's just on Instagram. Test the waters. Somebody probably needs to know what you know! 

Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Find Rebecca Toner

Website: https://www.supportivesupervision.com

SuperVision Podcast: https://www.supportivesupervision.com/about-the-podcast

Email Rebecca: [email protected]

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/

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

When it comes to money, therapists can be timid. Luckily, Chris Naugle joins the show to talk all about money! 

 About Chris Naugle

Chris Naugle has dedicated his life to being America's #1 Money Mentor. His success includes managing over 30 million dollars in assets in the financial services and advisory industry and tens of millions in real estate business, with over 200 transactions and an HGTV pilot show since 2014.

 In 20 years, Chris has built and owned 16 companies, with his businesses being featured in Forbes, ABC, and House Hunters. He is currently the co-founder and CEO of FlipOut Academy™, founder of The Money School™, and Money Mentor for The Money Multiplier.

 As an innovator and visionary in wealth-building and real estate, he empowers entrepreneurs, business owners, and real estate investors with the knowledge of how money works. Innovating what it takes to break the chains of financial slavery, Chris is driven to deliver the financial knowledge that fuels lasting freedom. To date, he has spoken to and taught over ten thousand Americans.

 What To Know About Money

You were taught the wrong things about money – it's not your fault. People know how to make money. However, they also know how to give it away. Most likely, you exchange your money for goods and services. Plus, you give your money to banks, Wall Street, and other places. Therefore, we give up control of our money. Unfortunately, banks and Wall Street don't care about your money as much as you care about your money. 

Whether you want to learn about money or not, there is one thing that you have to do. - we need to know how to pay ourselves first. Unfortunately, you can't do that because you spend money on all of your bills first. So, what's the easiest way to build massive amounts of wealth? Find a way to stop giving your money away to others. Sounds great, right? It's simple! It would help if you mimicked precisely what the banks do. 

The wealthy will not put their money in banks. Why? They don't trust banks. Plus, they want control over their money. Wealthy people found a way to use their money and never stop the interest. Sounds too good to be true, right? Well, it exists! We are talking about a dividend-paying whole life insurance policy from a giant mutually owned insurance company. Most people will freak out when they hear this! You think you know what a whole life does, but you don't know the entire story. Tune in to this episode to hear about what you need to know about your money! 

 Are you interested in receiving help with your counseling business?

 CLICK HERE

Thank you for listening.

Learn more about Chris Naugle: https://www.chrisnaugle.com

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 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/cSVJS-jaVek

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

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

Free Lunch Coffee is offering a 15% discount to the loyal listeners of this podcast. Use coupon code ‘Santos’ at check out. freelunchcoffee.com

Identify your ideal client – who do you want to work with? Even on the most exhausting day, would you work with that client again tomorrow? If we don't have our ideal client, we find ourselves burnt out, overwhelmed, and exhausted. 

We all resonate with someone. Perhaps you have a specific expertise. For me, I love to work with individuals navigating immigration. It's a story that resonates with me. This episode is about stepping back and taking a huge step back and think about your caseload during the week. Is there some sort of theme? Do you have an avatar? If not, that's okay. At the end of this episode, you'll know how to create your ideal client and wake up to a private practice that you love. 

Look at your story.

Why did you become a therapist? What is your "why?" Yes, you want to help people, but why do you choose to answer high-risk calls. Why do you sit in a session, listen, and provide feedback? Why do you choose to go through a challenging session? This should be a process that is just as intense as graduate school. Think about your "why."

 Is this forever?

 Many therapists don't want to put all their eggs in one basket. However, it's your journey. You can learn all about couple's counseling. A few years down the road, you shift to supporting kids – it's okay! We have a job to narrow down our work. Also, we have the responsibility to make a shift when we need to make a shift. That's the beauty of our journey. We can still be effective and powerful when we make a shift.

Find your ideal supervisor. 

 Some of us don't seek supervision after graduate school. However, I was hoping you could look at who your ideal supervisor would be that would allow you to grow your expertise. On your end, find a supervisor or a consultant that you can work with. That way, you can grow, become more robust, and more competent. We tend to be impacted by the people with who we surround ourselves with. What we all know is that mentorship is critical for success. 

 Write down presenting concerns.

 Now, write down the presenting concerns that you feel confident in addressing. Right away, you will acknowledge the inner power within you. That will allow you to get closer to finding your ideal client.

Sharpen your skills.

Right now, you are an expert. A year from now, you will be even better. Take advantage of continuing education, mentorship, and books. When you invest in yourself, it will pay off, just like in a relationship. When you invest in a relationship, it will be better. It’s the same thing here. When you invest in your work, then you will see it pay off. 

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

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

Get Clarity On Your Why

If we get clarity on our "why," then we will find our motivation. Keep clear on your personal "why." It will be a huge catalyst to determine which direction you want to go in the business. When our purpose is too broad, it will become background noise. For instance, some therapists will say that they do what they do to change lives. However, there isn't a lot of emotion behind it. That's why it's time to take a step back and reignite the fire of your passion. 

Finding Your Ideal Client

Who is the client that will get you excited? Hopefully, you wake up in the morning and get excited about who you are talking with for the day. Maybe you've met your ideal client; maybe you have never met that person. It could be a child, a marriage, a person with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a woman suffering from past trauma, etc. There is a perfect match for everyone. 

Make A Marketing Plan

Next, make a marketing plan that isn't the norm. You don't need to be on every single social media platform. Which social media platform does your ideal client spend the most time on? That's where you should start. There are other things that you can think about. For instance, what is your ideal client’s favorite TV show? Create marketing around the themes in that TV show. Instead of regular blog posts, you can make blog posts that revolve around the TV show. 

Work ON Your Business

So many therapists are busy working in their business that they aren't working on the business. It's time to pull back and look at your business as a whole. If you haven't already, you need to make quarterly goals. Take an hour or two to sit down and make a list. Where can you network? How can you step up your game? What can you do to go above and beyond? We never really take the time to step back and think about these things. It's almost the end of January, so take time to analyze what is coming up for the rest of the year. 

Shiny Object Syndrome 

The shiny object syndrome is when you see a marketing program online, and you decide to buy it. Then, you find a program about Facebook ads, so you buy that. When you have shiny object syndrome, you just start buying programs because you think they'll work, and you hope that they work. When you have clarity on your why and your ideal client, there will be less grey and a lot clearer. When you know your client listens to podcasts all day long, maybe you don't need to worry about Facebook ads. all day long, then maybe you don’t need to worry about Facebook ads. 

FREE Customized Strategy Session with Katherine: http://katherinekeller.net/journey/

Katherine’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katherineglobal/

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/UfF8uKl5rXA

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

Support the show

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

Are you overwhelmed with your progress notes?

There are some black and white strategies that you can implement today. That way, you will feel proud of what you're doing, and your notes will check all the boxes. 

First, have a check box for your progress notes. That way, the process will be fast, and you spend less time writing things down. Think about the time it takes to write down "decreased appetite" versus the time it takes to check a box. If you can check a box instead of writing, you'll save a lot of time.

You know your patients and the people that you work with. Have more checkboxes rather than less; that way, you can always save time. Also, you want to have a slot where you need to write whatever takes place. This part of your notes will take a little longer. 

If you're old school and use pen and paper, then use OneNote. It will take that information and toss it in your system. Another option is to write your notes, take a picture, then upload the photo to your system. That way, you won't have to spend extra time writing your notes by hand then typing them into the computer. 

Another strategy when it comes to your progress notes is creating an exact checkbox. These detailed checkboxes would include something you do in every session. That way, you don't have to write it down every single time. From there, you will think about every other common thing that you typically do in a session and what you naturally would write down. 

Tune in as we talk about other checkboxes that you can use for your progress notes. Sometimes simple actions will help you save time and increase productivity. Think about what these changes will do for you.

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/PisyoAI4Dbo

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

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

Congrats on making it to 2021!

Today is all about building a successful practice, making more money, and supporting those you serve. Life is all about being excited, so it's time to get jazzed about who you serve. Hopefully, you are eager to look at your marketing plan for 2021. 

The first area we need to look at is preparation. When it comes to preparation, I want us to acknowledge who we are serving. Who is your ideal client? When it comes to marketing, you don't want to market to people all over the world. So, make sure to identify your ideal client. Then, please write it down. 

We tend to be too broad when it comes to our ideal client. Let's say you want to work with someone who has anxiety. Well, it needs to be niched down even more. Anxiety could mean a child with anxiety, a teen with anxiety, or an adult with anxiety. Being that broad will make it difficult for your target client to find you. When your website is vague, your clients might not understand if they can work with you or not. 

Next, review what has happened in the past. Identify what has worked to support your marketing process. For instance, which paid ads worked? If your paid ad for relationships did well, then that's something to remember when creating your 2021 counseling practice marketing plan. 

Lastly, it's time to implement your plan. Remember to use what has worked in the past. If something is working, keep it going! Plus, don't forget that you can always add to what's working and make it even better. Tune in as we talk about how to effectively use funnels and conversions. 

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/47hN1MTd1so
Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

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

Jason Phillips is a husband, mentor, psychotherapist, lecturer, and life coach who advocates relentlessly for prosperity and wellness to strengthen individuals, couples, families, and communities worldwide. He has over ten years of experience in the mental health and coaching profession and is considered an expert in evidence-based treatment and strategic goal setting to foster success.

 Jason loves personal development, and he loves to push himself. He always had people in life who helped him get to where he needed to go. These people served as a life coach, even though they weren’t necessarily called that. It made Jason realize that’s what he wanted to do. He loves pushing people, just like he pushes himself. Discipline, focus, and consistency are things that he preaches to himself and his clients. Incredibly, his passion is something he gets paid to do.

As a life coach, Jason gets to help people solve their problems. However, sometimes people’s problems will spill over the realm of life coaching. So, Jason is trained to help them therapeutically. Life coaches need the education to understand whether people’s problems are beyond life coaches’ scope. One thing that Jason works on with clients is setting goals. It’s critical to be intentional about setting goals and knowing what your goal is. Sometimes, people say they want something, but it’s not really what they want.

Tune in as Jason gives tips about growing your audience on Instagram. We speak about the importance of building connection, authenticity on social media, and avoiding burnout.

Jason’s Website: https://www.pnpcoach.com

Jason’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jphillipsmsw/

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/U7gH2oPisUI
Visit the website: http://acounselorsjourney.com/

Support the show