5. WHETHER YOU’RE:
About to start your private practice.
Graduating in the next year and in serious planning
mode.
An intern doing private practice lite in preparation
for doing it on your own.
Have started your private practice but aren’t getting
the results you want…
This is YOUR chance to have a clean slate and
build the foundation of a successful practice.
6. WHAT WE’LL COVER TODAY:
The 5 things counselors often miss in
the planning stage.
Why most people miss them (but you
won’t.)
The basic first steps of enacting the
knowledge gained from these 5 things.
Specific free (or low-cost) resources
you can use to help you achieve your
goals.
7. THE 5 THINGS MOST
COUNSELORS MISS IN THE
PLANNING STAGE
10. IF YOU DO NOT NICHE:
Cash Left On The Table Facts on Niche & Money
Specialists can charge
more than generalists.
People pay more.
$80-90 vs. $125
More clients come.
Clients feel more
satisfied.
Niches make you more
memorable to referrals.
11. IF YOU DO NOT NICHE:
You don’t know: No Sense of Direction
Who to market to.
Which referral sources
to connect with.
Where to spend your
advertising money.
How to design your
website.
What language to use
in your copy….
12. IF YOU DO NOT NICHE:
Serving the people you
were meant to serve.
IF you are filling your
book (big if) they are
not with people you
want to be working
with.
You are not:
13. IF UNSOLVED:
This will keep you from working with the clients you
love the most.
14. WHY MOST COUNSELORS DON’T DO IT
Don’t want to eliminate options.
Don’t think of it.
Feels unimportant.
Dislike “expert”
status.
18. COMMON MISTAKES
Pay too much for a location.
Eliminate an option too early.
Ignore mid-range options.
Don’t know where to look.
Don’t protect yourself.
Sign an unnecessary contract.
19. IF YOU ARE NOT CAREFUL
You could end up paying a ton more money than you
need to per month, and add stress & liability.
20. DETERMINING WHAT YOU CAN SPEND ON
YOUR PLACE
Questions To Ask Rental Budget
How many clients do
you have to see to pay
for it?
Remember to include
“hidden” expenses.
How much space do
you actually need?
Remember you can
negotiate!
22. CHOOSING OFFICE SPACE PRIORITIES
Outside Inside
Accessibility to major
highways
Bus route
Traffic
General appearance
Parking space
Signage
Visibility
Waiting room
Separate entrance
Receptionist area
(receptionist services?)
Insulation, quiet
Bathrooms
Disability
accommodations
Furniture
23. WHERE TO LOOK
Psychology Today Counselor Associations
24. OTHER OFFICE LOCATION RESOURCES
Psych Office. http://psychoffice.net/
Craigslist.org “Office & Commercial” under
“Housing.”
Can narrow by rent range
Your local therapist support networks.
Contacting local doctor’s offices.
Real estate agents.
25. BOTTOM LINE
Know your budget.
Consider your needs both NOW & LATER.
Negotiate.
Don’t settle.
Only sign a contact when you completely
understand the terms.
28. MOST THERAPISTS WILL STAY AWAY
Because
“I don’t wanna.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I’m not in it for the
money.”
“It will work itself out.”
“I’m better at the
creative stuff.”
Don’t Fence
Me
In
29. WHY THIS DOESN’T WORK
“I don’t wanna.”
“I don’t know how.”
“I’m not in it for the
money.”
“It will work itself out.”
“I’m better at the
creative stuff.”
You gotta.
Doesn’t matter. You
gotta learn.
But you do want to
keep your private
practice going, right?
It won’t.
This still has to get
done.
32. A FEW SIMPLE QUESTIONS
What Do You Need To Make?
Gross: _____________________________
Take-home: _______________________ (Profit)
What Are Your Expenses?
Rent: _________________________
Professional Expenses: _____________________
Payment Processing: __________
Other: ________________________________
33. TWO OPTIONS:
Your rate per hour
x (weekly hours
worked) = weekly
income goal
Example: Weekly
income goal is $2000,
rate $90.
So $2000/rate of $90 =
23 client hours a week.
(Your rate per hour) x
hours per week =
weekly income goal
Example: Goal hours
per week are 15, and
goal income is $2000.
So $2000/15 client
hours a week = $135
hourly rate.
Solve for hours you must
work per week:
Solve for what your rate
needs to be:
34. SIMPLE, AND YET NOW YOU KNOW:
How many hours you need to work per week, or
How much you need to charge per hour.
You can also:
Figure out how many clients can cancel without
impacting your bottom line.
Track your progress towards your goal from week to
week.
38. WHY YOU DO MARKET RESEARCH
See:
What everybody else is doing.
Where there are gaps in your area (that you can
fill).
What the going rates are for your area.
Who potential referral partners might be.
39. MOST COUNSELORS SKIP THIS STEP
Because they don’t think it’s necessary.
Because they don’t know how.
Because they don’t think about it.
Because they feel inferior.
40. YOU MUST DO THIS IN ORDER
To know what you can charge that clients will pay (and
how you can stand out as a unique service provider.)
41. WHAT YOU NEED FOR MARKET RESEARCH
Your zip code
A computer with
internet access
Lots of notepaper and
a few pens.
42. THE PROCEDURE
Search Make Note Of:
Google “therapist”
“counselor” + zip code
(MFT, teen, play)
Psychology Today
Therapy Tribe
Specific directories
What they charge
What they specialize in
Picture quality
Profile quality
Lead with themselves
or lead with client?
Marketing messages
43. THIS WILL:
Not be the shortest endeavor
Will be messy and a challenge to wade
through
BUT:
It will save you money, time, and energy because
you will focus on the things that WORK and the
needs that are not being met.
45. AFTER YOU’VE DONE THAT
Stand Out Fit In
Top 3 Underserved Zip
Codes
__________________
__________________
What specialties seem
to need attention in
your area?
__________________
__________________
Find the median of
rates offered.
Profile pics that seem
most appealing.
Successful marketing
messages.
48. BUT WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE A STRATEGY
You waste your efforts.
You waste your money.
You waste your time.
You end up with one or two successes purely by
accident instead of a ton of success you created on
purpose.
49. YOU MUST DO THIS IN ORDER TO
Create a system to get clients in your door right away,
and on a regular basis.
50. PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
1. Make a plan. (Any plan.)
Goal=Clients In The Door
Plan=Steps that accomplish goal
Limit to 2-3 steps at a time.
2. Implement
3. Measure
What worked.
What didn’t work.
What has potential that needs to be watched.
51. 5 THINGS THAT MOST COUNSELORS MISS
1. Choose A Marketing Niche
2. Exploring Location Options
3. Setting Income Goals
4. Doing Market Research
5. Creating A Marketing Plan
52. Save Your Spot!
tinyurl.com/biz-anxiety
BEAT PRIVATE PRACTICE ANXIETY! HOW
TO GET RID OF YOUR BUSINESS FEARS
ONCE & FOR ALL
Mark your calendars!
Tuesday, October 7, 2014.