Once you have defined the fundamentals of your practice through its name, what it stands for, who it will be for, and your business plan, it’s time to turn your focus toward bringing your vision to life by defining what your practice will look like in action. This means refining your service offerings and setting your pricing with confidence. These steps will allow you to build a private practice that aligns with your values, supports your ideal clients, and sets the stage for a successful launch.

One of the topics I get the most questions about is marketing. It can feel like the dreaded boogeyman lurking in the shadows for new private practice owners. You’ve built your skills as a therapist, but now you’re faced with the challenge of putting on your business hat and getting the word out about your services. The idea of marketing might seem intimidating, complicated, and even a bit scary, but it doesn't have to be that way!

If you are to the point in your career where you are considering opening your own private practice, you likely already have the therapy part of your job down. While your education and training have equipped you with the knowledge and skills to provide effective therapy, stepping into the role of a business owner requires a completely different mindset. Launching a successful private practice means embracing both your therapeutic expertise and your ability to strategically manage a business. This can be incredibly scary, especially if you don’t know where to start.

Whether you’re specializing in counseling, therapy, psychology, or psychiatry, you will have options for how exactly you want to make yourself available to help clients. One of the many rewarding and challenging avenues you can explore is launching your own private practice. But what exactly is a private practice, and why might it be the right choice for you?

Private practice, just like any other business, will have a timing and rhythm. Your business will have seasons and change and an ebb and flow that you must learn, understand and embrace to set yourself up for long-term success. This means that your private practice journey will be full of opportunities and challenges, so learning when to move forward, when to pause, and when to pivot can make all the difference.

So, you want to have your own private practice one day? That’s amazing! Over the years, I’ve provided plenty of information on my website about launching your private practice, but the journey actually starts many years before you can open your business. And it may be more years than you think. If you have been working toward becoming a counselor, therapist, or social worker, this may be familiar to you already, but if you are just starting your path in the mental health field, follow along to get the inside scoop of how to start! Let’s take it from the top, and see where the journey to private practice ownership begins.

In the fast-paced world of mental health, whether you own a private practice or are a clinical leader, it's easy to fall into the trap of busyness without intention or direction. We often find ourselves overwhelmed by countless tasks and goals, unsure of what truly matters and how to achieve it. The myth that being busy equates to productivity can leave us feeling unfulfilled and stuck. But what if there was a way to break free from this cycle? What if, instead of reaching and grasping for success, we could work less and accomplish more?

Mental Health Private Practice Consultation serves as a specialized service crafted to empower mental health professionals in navigating the intricacies of the business side of their private practice journey. While mental health professionals are adeptly trained in clinical practice, they often receive no formal training in the role of a business owner. The purpose of Private Practice Consultation is to fill this gap in knowledge, support identity development, and share the value of business development and how to do it. This consultative approach offers practitioners personalized guidance, strategic insights, and educational support at various stages of their careers, catering to those in the initial phases of establishing their private practice, as well as, those seeking to refine their existing practice.

A new year brings new opportunities! For mental health professionals, particularly those in leadership roles, setting intentions is a powerful way to make the most of these opportunities. So, what is the significance of intention-setting, why does it matter for leadership success, and what are practical steps to craft meaningful intentions for 2024?

Let’s explore!

The holiday season brings its own set of challenges for mental health professionals. The pressure to neatly tie up loose ends can be overwhelming, but what if the to-do list remains a bit unraveled? This is a gentle reminder that the gift of self-care, especially in the form of rest, should not be withheld, even if the year doesn't conclude as neatly as envisioned.

As we navigate the season of giving thanks, the air is filled with messages of gratitude and appreciation. While it's crucial to reflect on what we're thankful for and those who've supported our journey, true gratitude isn't a seasonal affair confined to November. This rings particularly true for those of us in leadership roles within the mental health field.

As the leaves fall and the air turns crisp, the winds of change whisper through the world of business. Much like the eerie allure of Halloween, the prospect of pivoting your focus in your private practice can be both enticing and frightening. Whether it's a minor course correction or a full-scale transformation, change can feel like stepping into the unknown. But fear not, for in this blog, we'll shine a lantern on the path, guiding you through the haunted forest of business pivots. By the end, you'll see that it's not so scary after all.

As the vibrant hues of summer begin to mellow into the warm, earthy tones of autumn, the world undergoes a natural transformation. The air becomes crisper, leaves gently fall from trees, and a sense of change lingers in every breeze. In many ways, fall serves as a powerful metaphor for the transitions we experience in our personal and professional lives, especially in the realm of Private Practice.