Addressing Your Private Practice Fears: What if I Don't Get Enough Clients?

Addressing Your Private Practice Fears: What if I Don't Get Enough Clients?
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I asked what your biggest fears are in private practice, and y'all got really fired up about it! In today's video we address one of your biggest practice fears: what if I don't get enough clients?? Yikes! In this video I offer some practical steps you can take to market your practice before you've launched so you can minimize the risk of not having a full practice.
Links to related tools referenced in the video:
How to find your private practice specialty:
• Develop your Niche in ...
Identify your practice niche:
• How to Find your Niche...
Develop your brand story in private practice:
• How to Develop your Br...
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This video is geared for therapists of all kinds, including psychologists, MFTs, LPCCs, social workers, and others in the clinical counseling field.
Welcome to Private Practice Skills! I’m Dr. Marie Fang, psychologist in private practice. I post videos offering tools I learned the hard way about starting and growing private practice so that you don’t have to.
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This video is not intended as professional or legal advice. Be sure to seek the services of a professional if you are in need of them.

[@John_II]

This isn't just good for psychologist/therapists. This is generally good advice for other professionals. :)

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Such a great tip! Any business would benefit from marketing and testing their marketing before launching. So true!

[@enatp6448]

I'm thinking of starting with video sessions and see how that. I'm fortunate to have a home office space. Feels like a low risk option at this point - all things considered. Thanks for covering this. I love when you give examples of specialized work! Gets my creative thinking going. 😊

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Glad you find the examples helpful, I've been trying to incorporate those more often. Yes I agree, especially with how many folks are willing to do teletherapy these days, launching a home teletherapy practice is such a low cost, low risk option!

[@compassionatepeercounseling]

Great ideas! I'm learning this through trial and error. I also have a part time job and it is very helpful for support.

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

That's a great way to do it - test things out while you have some job stability!

[@compassionatepeercounseling]

@@PrivatePracticeSkills Yes

[@christianlamb]

Great vid! This is obviously such a mystery how your going to be found by clients. Marketing, at least in my Masters program, was not discussed. I'm finding it easy to get caught up in side hustles... online referral networks....and seeking safety...credentialing with insurance companies....so I've been losing track of consistently marketing. Only so many hours in the day when you have a full time agency job, wife and kid. :-) Time to get back on the marketing track!! Thx as always!

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

That's so true - any one of those tasks is plenty to fill your plate! You can always dedicate as little as 30 minutes a week to a marketing approach and it will still add up over time!

[@dv_browell]

I love your videos...💙

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Thanks!

[@blink56k]

I am thinking of leaving my last insurance panel, and while I don't think *all* my clients will leave, I'm wondering whether I should wait to attract at least 10 private pay clients (and do so consistently) before dropping the final insurance.

[@Enchanteralle]

Yes that was what triggered my anxiety...clients coming and going and then some periods of low referrals. However, this month has been insane. Non-stop inquiries. I started in mid March when the pandemic started and I was panicking because the first 2-2.5 month were like 0 referrals. I'm not accepting insurance. Got my first client in mid May. And now I'm expanding.

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

That's amazing!! Congratulations on all your success!

[@Enchanteralle]

@@PrivatePracticeSkills Thank you! There is a high demand for therapists, so I hope those referrals keep coming!

[@NaTashaBLMFT]

Can you do a video on how to put clients on a waitlist?

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Great question! I think there are a lot of folks wondering about this so I'm definitely adding this to the list. Thanks for the request!

[@tiffany4284]

Are we allowed to ask topics here? I don’t have IG. If so, What do you think is the catch with these job posts on Indeed where businesses state they will contract with you and send you referrals. What am I missing 🥴

[@famnfren]

How do we deal with conflict of interest if we are currently employed? Also, wouldn't this give our employer that we are leaving?

[@christagrey4819]

What about the ethics of having a waitlist? If these are people that are actively hurting, i feel it would be unethical to refuse immediate service to them by putting them on a waitlist, and would be better to refer them to someone who can support them immediately, then keep their referral info and contact them when you are available to see them.

[@wojali]

Related to that, I'm very curious as to how often do clients reach out, and are willing to actually wait? They may say ok to be on a waitlist, but I'm guessing here that they're probably also calling up other clinicians for their availability. Question for the group: How long do they actually wait before they go off elsewhere? 2 weeks? 1 month?

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Great question! It is SO important to be clear on what the waitlist entails, and offer alternative referral options. I've found that for the folks I tend to work with, they're not in immediate crisis and are pretty eager to work specifically with me since my focus is so specialized and hard to come by. If I sense anyone inquiring is in more immediate crisis or would benefit from services right away, I strongly encourage them to meet with someone with availability and offer referrals. I hope this helps!

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

Great question! Often after the initial call, a significant number of folks are intent on meeting with me - more than half. This is the benefit of having a clear marketing strategy - folks believe they've found the best match and are willing to wait if their needs aren't more urgent. I have a waitlist right now with some folks still checking in after several months since I first spoke with them. At this point, my practice has been full for awhile so I don't offer a waitlist anymore, but potential clients will still ask if I can let them know once I have an opening. I do offer referral options but many folks prefer to wait to meet with me. I hope this helps!

[@englishrose4388]

Counseling grad programs should hire you as an adjunct to teach a class. Seriously.

[@theresam1700]

I agree. I was blessed to have a GREAT supervisor when doing my internships but there is so much more info that this page shares!

[@Larawonderandwander]

Is it worth going to grad school to become a therapist?? It’s so expensive and I’m struggling to justify ROI

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

This is such a personal decision to think through. I do have a video about the earning differences for Master's degrees vs doctorates that you may find helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGLZhaOEitapfrs I also hope to speak to your specific question in a video soon too!

[@Larawonderandwander]

@@PrivatePracticeSkills I’ve watched that one. It was very helpful and is pushing me to start with the masters and then see what happens... do you think I can make $100K plus with a private practice?

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

@@Larawonderandwander It's definitely possible! There are lots of videos out there about earning 6 figures in private practice.

[@nellieshoals]

​@@Larawonderandwander It's definitely possible, but not a field to get into for the money. Your first job (while working towards licensure) will often severely underpay if you choose the full- or part-time employment option--and you have to be okay with that. Most people get into this field because it provides them with a sense of meaning. I believe you need to be motivated to work and stay in the field due to the right reasons. It's what's ethical! Not to mention what will make you a successful and effective therapist.

[@Larawonderandwander]

Yeah I hear that and that’s the main reason I’m getting into this field but I need to also be realistic about cost of living, raising a family etc

[@courtneylovesreading4116]

I am still in undergrad, but when I eventually have all of my degrees and fully licensed, I think that I might try to start a part time private practice in addition to a regular therapist job at the same time. I know myself enough to recognize that if I don’t do it straight out of training, I might become comfortable and too scared to start a private practice. Do you have any advice on how to take the plunge straight out of becoming licensed?

[@PrivatePracticeSkills]

That's a great way to do it! I dove into private practice straight out of grad school. I have a video all about this: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qqrTm5lvbaZrmqM