It can be scary starting out on your own. Will I be able to fill my schedule? Will I be able to pay my bills? How will potential clients find me?
When you are trying to start a private practice, there are several ways to increase your visibility and referral sources in your area. You can join different groups on social media outlets, post ads through Facebook or LinkedIn, or use tools like Google Ad Words. You can make sure that your website has strong SEO (search engine optimization). The most important method for me is meeting other therapists face-to-face and building those relationships.
What people often do not share is how you can turn people off when trying to increase your visibility to increase your caseload.
Here are the top 5 reasons why I may not send clients your way.
When you are trying to start a private practice, there are several ways to increase your visibility and referral sources in your area. You can join different groups on social media outlets, post ads through Facebook or LinkedIn, or use tools like Google Ad Words. You can make sure that your website has strong SEO (search engine optimization). The most important method for me is meeting other therapists face-to-face and building those relationships.
What people often do not share is how you can turn people off when trying to increase your visibility to increase your caseload.
Here are the top 5 reasons why I may not send clients your way.
1. You Specialize in Everything
I feel like I am a fairly seasoned therapist and have had a lot of experiences with different clientele; different ages, client configurations (individuals, couples, families), presenting issues, and diagnoses. However, I cannot say that I specialize in more than a few of them. When I am meeting therapists new to private practice (or not so new), and they tell me that they work with everybody, I have no idea who to send you. It is my goal to refer clients to the best possible fit. If I have two choices (I try to always give three referrals to clients), one of whom sees just anybody and the other specializes and has a passion for the client’s specific issue, I will always refer to the latter one. Decide who you love to work with and share that passion.
Read Defining Your Niche: The key to standing out in the crowd, branding your business, and avoiding burnout
2. You Ghost Me
As I mentioned before, one of the most important aspects of my marketing and visibility is building relationships with other therapists. It is lovely to meet you at a networking event or for coffee, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I am going to start sending folks your way. A relationship means that we know more than what is on a business card or brochure about one another. The fit of a therapist is not based on specialties alone. I can provide a great referral if I also really know the personality and style of a therapist. So, instead of throwing your business card at me and checking me off the list of folks you have met, let’s get to know each other.
3. Know Your Geographic Area
I live and work in the heart of suburbia. There is always ample parking, very few one-way streets, and everything you need seems to be within a three mile radius. So, when you are posting on those social media groups or requesting referrals, know the mindset of the folks in your area. Is this client used to and willing to travel to see you? I know that people in my area shy away from going anywhere outside of that 3-5 mile radius. We don’t usually have to, and there is an abundance of therapists here. Are we going to have to find or pay for a place to park? Nope, we will find someone closer to home unless we are searching for a true specialty. So, when posting your practice information on one of those groups or asking for a referral from someone, make sure your location is practical for the client.
4. Everyone Accepts Private Pay
Again, when posting on those sites, if the other therapist is requesting a specific insurance and you do not accept that insurance, don’t post initially. Follow that post to see how many hits that person is receiving that match the insurance, geographic, and specialty requests. If they are not receiving any, then acknowledge this lack of possible referrals and add your name into the hat if you feel like you are the perfect match for this client.
5. Fear vs. Abundance
It is common to be fearful when starting a practice. As mentioned before, there can be a real fear of getting enough clients to pay all the bills and create the life you want. However, my success does not mean that you will not have success. I have been asked by very well-meaning therapists why I share my practice building “secrets” for free with others, especially when I run workshops and provide private coaching and am paid for it. The first time I was asked this, I didn’t really know how to answer. First of all, they are not really “secrets” and second, helping you build your practice doesn’t negatively affect mine. Having good relationships with other therapists and having some collaboration actually helps improve my practice. There are enough clients for us all.
6. There Is Not One Way
I do not have this experience often, however, when I do, I am immediately turned off and will never send a referral. There is not one way to work with people. It is wonderful to have a passion in the way that you work and see clients improve and make changes; however, it is important to be respectful of all of the other ways of working. This is one of the reasons our profession is so amazing and that there truly is an abundance of clients. We all work in different ways with different people. We will not be and cannot be a perfect fit for everyone. Please when sharing your passion, check yourself to make sure you are curious about the ways other therapists work.
I feel like I am a fairly seasoned therapist and have had a lot of experiences with different clientele; different ages, client configurations (individuals, couples, families), presenting issues, and diagnoses. However, I cannot say that I specialize in more than a few of them. When I am meeting therapists new to private practice (or not so new), and they tell me that they work with everybody, I have no idea who to send you. It is my goal to refer clients to the best possible fit. If I have two choices (I try to always give three referrals to clients), one of whom sees just anybody and the other specializes and has a passion for the client’s specific issue, I will always refer to the latter one. Decide who you love to work with and share that passion.
Read Defining Your Niche: The key to standing out in the crowd, branding your business, and avoiding burnout
2. You Ghost Me
As I mentioned before, one of the most important aspects of my marketing and visibility is building relationships with other therapists. It is lovely to meet you at a networking event or for coffee, but that doesn’t necessarily mean I am going to start sending folks your way. A relationship means that we know more than what is on a business card or brochure about one another. The fit of a therapist is not based on specialties alone. I can provide a great referral if I also really know the personality and style of a therapist. So, instead of throwing your business card at me and checking me off the list of folks you have met, let’s get to know each other.
3. Know Your Geographic Area
I live and work in the heart of suburbia. There is always ample parking, very few one-way streets, and everything you need seems to be within a three mile radius. So, when you are posting on those social media groups or requesting referrals, know the mindset of the folks in your area. Is this client used to and willing to travel to see you? I know that people in my area shy away from going anywhere outside of that 3-5 mile radius. We don’t usually have to, and there is an abundance of therapists here. Are we going to have to find or pay for a place to park? Nope, we will find someone closer to home unless we are searching for a true specialty. So, when posting your practice information on one of those groups or asking for a referral from someone, make sure your location is practical for the client.
4. Everyone Accepts Private Pay
Again, when posting on those sites, if the other therapist is requesting a specific insurance and you do not accept that insurance, don’t post initially. Follow that post to see how many hits that person is receiving that match the insurance, geographic, and specialty requests. If they are not receiving any, then acknowledge this lack of possible referrals and add your name into the hat if you feel like you are the perfect match for this client.
5. Fear vs. Abundance
It is common to be fearful when starting a practice. As mentioned before, there can be a real fear of getting enough clients to pay all the bills and create the life you want. However, my success does not mean that you will not have success. I have been asked by very well-meaning therapists why I share my practice building “secrets” for free with others, especially when I run workshops and provide private coaching and am paid for it. The first time I was asked this, I didn’t really know how to answer. First of all, they are not really “secrets” and second, helping you build your practice doesn’t negatively affect mine. Having good relationships with other therapists and having some collaboration actually helps improve my practice. There are enough clients for us all.
6. There Is Not One Way
I do not have this experience often, however, when I do, I am immediately turned off and will never send a referral. There is not one way to work with people. It is wonderful to have a passion in the way that you work and see clients improve and make changes; however, it is important to be respectful of all of the other ways of working. This is one of the reasons our profession is so amazing and that there truly is an abundance of clients. We all work in different ways with different people. We will not be and cannot be a perfect fit for everyone. Please when sharing your passion, check yourself to make sure you are curious about the ways other therapists work.
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