The Practice of Therapy Podcast with Gordon Brewer
This podcast is here for therapists, counselors, social workers, psychotherapists, and mental health clinicians in their practice journeys. I'm Gordon Brewer and the person behind The Practice of Therapy Blog and Website that provides tools, resources and advice for people starting, growing or expanding their private practices. The podcast will help you learn from other experts in the field to move your private practice forward to success.
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Nicole Liloia | 3 Key Relationships In Private Practice | TPOT 116
02/17/2020
Nicole Liloia | 3 Key Relationships In Private Practice | TPOT 116
Nicole Liloia joins the show and talks about building bigger practices the right way. The first step in attracting more clients is overcoming our limiting mindsets. The next step is building three key relationships – community, referrals, and transactional. Stay tuned to hear how to why these relationships are so important and how to create them. Meet Nicole Liloia Nicole Liloia is a business strategist who helps women entrepreneurs build bigger businesses and create consistent income growth. She loves helping them create multiple income streams that allow them the freedom to work less while still making more money. Nicole’s first business was a counseling private practice but she quickly added in multiple income streams so that she could travel more while still running her business. She got her Masters in Social Work from Columbia University and has contributed to Forbes, Huffington Post, Mind Body Green, and more. Nicole always says yes to tacos and loves Apothic wine. You can find her online at and download her free tool, the Consistent Income Generator so that you can create a personalized plan to have consistent income growth in your own business at . Freedom and Flexibility Nicole’s business is online, when she goes on vacation, she can bring her work with her and stay extra long. Working online also allows for more time with kids or more time to dedicate to your hobbies. Look at what motivates you outside of work and think about how you can get more time doing what you love. Think about the lifestyle that you want for yourself and create or alter your practice so it will best fulfill your needs. Mindset Blocks Nicole always felt like there wasn’t enough out there for her. There were still other people who had what she wanted. Therefore, Nicole wouldn’t be able to do it herself. Nicole also thought that if she went on vacation, then her business would fail while she was gone. We are all subject to imposture syndrome – assuming we are not qualified enough for our dreams. The key to building a more prominent practice is building healthy relationships. However, if you have a scarcity mindset, then you will be unable to create healthy relationships. Be open to putting yourself out there and be open to the possibilities that come with being seen and building mutual relationships. In the mental health space, there is always room for more people. Just because someone has a successful practice, doesn’t mean you can’t do it as well – it just means there is a path for you to be successful too. Building Successful Relationships There are three key relationships you need to build to have a successful private practice. Community. Your ideal clients and the people that you want to work with. Make sure you are building a large community – you want to nurture a broad audience so when your clients leave you to have more people to pull from. Show up, create content, and get in front of an audience. Be active on Facebook, write blog content, and utilize mailing lists. Referral Relationships. Build a relationship 1:1 with someone who has a similar audience that you do. You can share each other’s content and even refer to each other when necessary. Reach out to someone and ask about their needs – how can you help their audience? Develop long-term relationships that will benefit your business. Think about how you would want someone to approach you for that relationship. Transactional Relationships. A transactional relationship is someone that shares a complementary audience with you. Nicole pitched herself to The Practice of Therapy Podcast. She wanted to know if there was anything she can do for the podcast. Nicole wasn’t asking for clients; she wanted to know how she could be helpful to Gordon’s audience. This relationship is a community builder. To be successful in any business, you need to be known, liked, and trusted. Be genuine with what you do. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Nicole’s Resources Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Ryan & Emily Russ | Investing Your Time In Private Practice | TPOT 115
02/10/2020
Ryan & Emily Russ | Investing Your Time In Private Practice | TPOT 115
In this episode, Ryan and Emily Russ join the show. They speak about their niche working with sexual addiction patients and uncovering underlying traumas. Plus, Ryan talks about how lucrative intensives have been for his practice. Later, Ryan and Emily explain the importance of doing your own work as a therapist – invest your time in education, therapy, and informative readings. Meet Emily and Ryan Russ Our family lives in Little Rock, AR. We have 3 young children and 1 Goldendoodle puppy. When Ryan was finishing up grad school at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, MS 15 years ago, we knew one day we wanted to work together in private practice. After being on staff at Capstone Treatment Center, where Ryan received extensive training and certifications in Trauma, Sexual Addiction, Multiple Addiction, EMDR, Mindfulness, and Brainspotting, in 2019 we nervously took the plunge into opening our own group practice clinic. Ryan’s main specialties are Sex Addiction, Trauma, Custom Intensives, and Custom Personal Growth Intensives for other therapists wanting to do their own therapy work. Emily’s specialties include administration, client hospitality, and juggling all the clinic details while raising 3 children and potty training a puppy. Getting to work together as a married couple has its challenges, but it mostly has been so rewarding! Seeing how God has created our skill sets so oppositely and yet so complementary has been a really neat gift this past year. Client care and the “Art of Therapy” is at the core of our family-owned and operated clinic. Sexual Addiction Niche In 2012, Ryan stumbled upon the work of . Ryan loved how men could encounter each other and work through their issues. This inspired Ryan to do sexual addiction work with people who were out of control sexually in their lives. Trauma, attachment, and family systems are also underneath sex addiction; Ryan likes to help his clients uncover these issues. Intensives Half of Ryan’s revenue comes from doing intensives. You can do so much more with uninterrupted time. Ryan does one, two, or three-day intensives with eight hours of therapy each day. The intensive will be customized to the issue at hand. Ryan utilizes brain spotting, trauma egg, and yoga. Plus, Ryan is a certified yoga therapist – they are also looking to start goat yoga. The Value of Doing Your Own Work Both Ryan and Emily have gone to therapy independently and as a couple. If it weren’t for that, they wouldn’t be as secure as a team. They want their clinicians who work for them to also have done their own work. It’s hard to take a patient farther in the therapy process than you have gone yourself. Sometimes, Emily and Ryan disagree on business ideas. You have to learn how to work through the bumps in the road. Work-Life Balance When there is scarcity, there is a shame-based hustle. Be intentional. Ryan and Emily have the mindset to go slow and steady. Plus, they have learned not to say yes to everything. When Ryan and Emily are home for work, it’s tempting to talk more about the business. However, they realized they needed to have more family time. They even hired a housekeeper to lessen the burden and increase their quality time together. Recommended Resources Ryan heard about G Suite on the Practice of Therapy. They recommend the because it helped them learn how to maximize their productivity using the G Suite tools. Emily says that the has also been beneficial because it is essential to have a community in private practice. Also, continual education will carry various dividends. Emily recommends doing your own work as a clinician so you can be a better clinician and serve your clients. They have a budget for each member of their staff to do their own work. Ryan even does intensives for other therapists. You can’t sell therapy if you don’t believe in doing it yourself. Investing Your Time Other people tend to value you more than you value yourself. If you are trapped in specific ways of thinking, then you are not going to be doing more in-depth and quality work. It’s essential to have an intentional effort to do quality work. Utilize the tools around you to level up. It’s a no-brainer for Ryan. Behind every risk, Ryan felt support. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Emily and Ryan’s Resource Emily@thefindingplacecounseling.com Instagram: Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Daniel Fava | 5 Ways To Improve Your Private Practice Website | TPOT 114
02/03/2020
Daniel Fava | 5 Ways To Improve Your Private Practice Website | TPOT 114
In this episode, Daniel Fava talks about five things you can do with your website to attract more clients to your private practice. You can take bits and pieces from each tip and dive deep into your site content. Daniel says the first thing you will want to do is to be specific with your goals. Have you been able to identify your ideal client? Stay tuned to hear Daniel dive deep into each of his five tips. Meet Daniel Fava Daniel Fava is a father, husband, podcaster, website consultant and founder of and . He helps therapists create websites and attract more clients online. After building a website for his wife’s private practice and seeing the impact it had on her business, he became passionate about helping others achieve the same. Daniel offers web design services, SEO services, consultations, and online training to help therapists grow their business through online marketing. You can get free access to his library of PDFs, cheatsheets, and ebooks by. 1. Be Specific With Your Goals Everybody has goals for their practice, but how does it pertain to your ideal client? If you want to attract ten new clients, what would those clients look like? Find out who the people are that you enjoy working with. After identifying your ideal client, you can look at your website through the eyes of your client. Are the images, words, and content speaking to that type of client? Once you do this, you can finally get specific with your content. 2. Ask Your Website Visitors to Take an Action You need a call to action on your website. Therapists are great at filling their websites with a lot of information. However, they may never tell their visitors actually to do anything. Daniel says you need to ask your visitors for their information. Daniel likes a specific and engaging call to action on each page. What is the next step that someone can take in order to work with you? For instance, you can have a free fifteen-minute phone consultation. On every page, there should be something that explains that step. Conversion rates are usually low on popups, be patient with your rates. 3. Make Sure Your Website is on Google Is your website indexed on Google? Put quality stuff on your website; Google will pick up on it. Think about your audience and who you are trying to attract to your site. Daniel says to think about the keywords that you want to rank for. Check out the first few websites that are listed on Google for those keywords and find out what kind of content they are putting out. 4. Get Your Content Shared When you create a blog post, you want to make it high-quality and give people a reason to share your content and come back to your website. Think about your ideal clients and the challenges they face. What are some ways you can help them out and create a win for their life? Blogging is also an essential way to get your ranking up. 5. Measure What You’re Doing It’s hard to grow something that you’re not measuring. What does your Google Analytics say? If you’re not tracking how many people are going to your website, how will you know what the problem is? Google Analytics is free to set up with your website. Even if you’re not planning on looking at it, have it going, so it’s collecting that information. Eventually, it will come in handy. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Daniel’s Resources Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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David Hall | Holding CE Events To Boost Your Practice | TPOT 113.
01/27/2020
David Hall | Holding CE Events To Boost Your Practice | TPOT 113.
In this episode, David Hall joins the show to talk about continuing education events. At first, David had significant “impostor syndrome”. However, he has come to realize that you do not need to be an expert to lead a training; you simply need to be an enthusiast of your topic. David explains some essential steps you need to take while planning your CE training, plus he describes some different ways you can profit from the event. Later, Gordon and David talk about the pros and cons of online courses. Meet David Hall Dr. Stephen “David” Hall heads up content and creative direction as the “Chief Maven” of PsychMaven. He began his work as a psychotherapist in 2005, and he currently holds clinical licenses in Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. He has built up multiple counseling practices in his years as a clinician, first in Georgia and then in his home state of Tennessee. In 2015, he led the start-up of an independent psychiatry clinic, , in Knoxville, TN. Dr. Hall maintains a psychotherapy caseload and supervises postgraduate therapists in the practice he leads in the clinic, Haven Counseling Center at Haven Family Psychiatry. Impostor Syndrome David says he would have started doing continuing education events earlier in his career. In David’s mind, he needed enough credentials to do CE. David thought he needed to be an expert to lead a training. However, David now knows that you do not need to be an expert to train other people. The first paid CE event David put on was about ethics. He isn’t an ethics expert, but he knew it would be a high-demand topic, so he was going to figure it out. David doesn’t like to present himself as an expert; he wants to present himself as an enthusiast. Starting a CE Event There are a lot of different steps to holding a CE event. Figure out what the CE requirements are for your state. Some states are easier than others to get approval. David’s first event involved getting his event approved for a pretty broad audience. The next step is figuring out where you are going to hold your event. Keep your costs as minimal as possible – it’s effortless to overspend when putting events together. Remember that it does not have to be a significant event. You can do a ten-person event and still make money. David does a lot of direct mailings; there is a lot of expense in this. The reason David picked ethics because he knew it would have a big draw. What do people want to learn about? In the , there is a list of required topics. Making Money from CE Events There are lots of ways you can make money from CE events. The most obvious way is to charge for the event. The best place to start is by looking at the mailings you get. You will price the event based on how many CE hours it includes. Between $15 and $20 an hour is a good starting point. Plus, you can also lower the price for an early-bird special, then charge more once the event gets closer. Sponsorship is another way to make money from CE events. Affiliate marketing is another way to make money. You can recommend a subscription service or another course and become an affiliate with them. The rate can be up to 30%, and the revenue can even be reoccurring. If you do a CE event at cost, because of that, you deepen your reputation and get an extra five clients. Presentation Space When David travels, he likes to do talks in hotels. However, the cost can be high with hotel space and catering. In a church space, David can do way cheaper catering. Managing your expenses is the biggest thing you will have to worry about when holding a CE event. David thought he needed to “go big or go home.” Nobody told him that he could “go big and go home.” Start lean by keeping your expenses low, and you can always add to your events later on when you know what your audience responds to. Online Courses There’s a lot of benefits to in-person events; the audience will have a significant commitment. Online, people are signing up and not attending. If you want CE events to be a steady source of income for you, then you should be doing both online and in-person events. The best way to build up your email list is by doing online events. If someone knows you, it’s easier for them to buy your online product. However, if there is no relationship there, people will start to question if the product is legitimate. Plus, many states have limitations on how many online credits you can do. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! David’s Resources Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins | Creating Successful Partnerships As Private Practice Owners | TPOT 112
01/20/2020
Aaron Potratz & Nathan Hawkins | Creating Successful Partnerships As Private Practice Owners | TPOT 112
In this episode, Aaron Potratz and Nathan Hawkins join the podcast to discuss starting a partnership in private practice. They reveal some vital things you will need to know before committing to a partnership; you especially need to know the identity of your practice and where you see your business going. Later, the two explain why there is no competition between them and the importance of trust in a partnership. Meet Nathan Hawkins Nathan Hawkins is a Licensed Professional Counselor and has been working in the field for almost 17 years. He is a certified trauma professional and performs EMDR and also utilizes Hypnosis at times as well. He is an approved clinical supervisor in the state of Oregon. He is the owner of Life Encounter Counseling which he established in 2004. While maintaining his own client load he supervises the clinical and administrative work of 4 employees and a clinical intern program. The success of Life Encounter Counseling birthed a passion to multiply the work of counseling in different ways. One of those directions leads to him co-founding another private group counseling practice, Life Discovery Counseling Services with Aaron Potratz in 2016. Life Discovery Counseling Services has grown from 1 location to 2 successful locations that serve opposite sides of the Portland Metro. He supervises and manages the counselors and staff in both of those locations with Aaron. Nathan loves to teach and also intermittently fills in at Multnomah University as an Adjunct Clinical Supervision Professor. Meet Aaron Potratz Aaron is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Oregon, the owner of Discover Counseling, and co-owner of Life Discovery Counseling Services – two private group counseling practices. Aaron maintains his own client caseload while also managing and supervising his counseling staff. He started out as a solo practitioner in 2007, expanded to a group practice in 2015, and started his second practice with his business partner, Nathan Hawkins, in 2016. Between the two businesses, he has 10 clinicians and one support staff. Aaron also does consulting for small businesses, helping them become more efficient and productive. He especially enjoys helping other therapist business owners grow their practices and focus in on the areas they are most passionate about. Building Trust Nathan and Aaron get along really well. There went through a honeymoon phase; however, there wasn’t much depth at first. As time went on, they had to lean on each other and give each other additional information. Plus, they were vulnerable when speaking about their businesses and gave honest feedback about the direction of their companies. They play up each other’s strengths and complement each other’s weaknesses. Integrating Practices When Nathan and Aaron first started with the shared space, they had a lot to think about, like rent, square footage, and office space. It is easy to make assumptions when you find a partner – even small things need to be discussed. Nathan and Aaron have separate businesses. However, the way they treat their employees is identical. These people are in the same space, so they need to be treated equally. When you are dreaming about combining practices, this may not be something you think about upfront. Competition You know what you’re good at, and you stick with those things. Aaron and Nathan have niched down and found what they do well. They both know what clients they work best with. If a client doesn’t fit one practice, then they will refer them to the other practice. Getting competitive with other therapists doesn’t make sense; there are more than enough clients out there for everyone. We will be doing a disservice if we are not giving our clients the right therapist. Tips for Starting a Partnership Both Aaron and Nathan have their own identities for their businesses. One reason they got together is because of how isolating private practice can be. However, it would be best if you spent some time understanding what you like to do on your own. Do not be in a big hurry to get together with another practice. You have to know who you are on your own before starting a partnership. Plus, Aaron and Nathan say how essential, to be honest, and open with your partner. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources for Nathan & Aaron Call Nathan: Email Nathan: Call Aaron: (971) 222-8166 Email Aaron: Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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9 Ways To Diversify Your Income Streams In Private Practice | TPOT 111
01/13/2020
9 Ways To Diversify Your Income Streams In Private Practice | TPOT 111
In this episode, Gordon reveals nine unique ways to diversify income in private practice typically, we trade our time and expertise for money. We have a session, and our clients pay us for that. Trading time for money can be limiting. There are lots of other ways we can generate income for our practice. Gordon identified nine different ways to diversify revenue. The list goes in order from most practice related to less practice related. Nine Ways to Diversify Income in Private Practice 1. Group Sessions Most groups are between four to six people. You can have a group around a particular topic or niche. This way, you are maximizing the amount of money you get for the time spent. 2. Start a Group Practice Partner with other therapists and create a small group. Gordon collects a small portion of their rates to pay for overhead. However, a small piece of that is also the profit margin. This additional income allows Gordon to see fewer clients himself and gives his other therapists more clients. You can bring on therapists for your group practice as independent contractors or employees. 3. Affiliate Marketing Find products and services that other people are producing. When you offer that product or service, then you will get a commission from that. A lot of the links Gordon uses are affiliate links. If a person clicks through the link, then Gordon will get a commission. A big affiliate is Amazon. Gordon says to sign up for an Amazon Associate account. Through the account, you can offer anything from Amazon, link it on your website, and then you will receive a commission. For instance, Gordon recommends . Whenever you click on his site, Gordon will earn money from Amazon. Here are some other resources Gordon recommends: 4. Selling Online Products Gordon offers a as one of his online products. A lot of therapists create handouts and worksheets for clients. You can generate income from providing these resources online. Check out ; they help therapists sell resources through their platform. Another platform is – you can sell digital products on this site. With , they take a percentage of what you sell. However, it can still be a lucrative way to create income. 5. Online Courses Gordon uses for his. There is a lot of stuff that you as a therapist and a private practice owner are knowledgeable about. It doesn’t necessarily have to be courses for other therapists. It can be courses that you offer to your clients. If you do a lot of anger management counseling, think about putting it into a course format and provide it to your clients. 6. Writing a Book Gordon offers a . When people sign up to get it, they use their email address. Then, Gordon will use the email address to market. An eBook will get your name out there and establish you as an expert. EBooks can be used as a lead magnet, or you can sell the eBook online. Make sure the eBook is quality. Do not do it just to make people spend money. 7. Public or Live Events By offering continuing education events, you can create more income. Dr. David Hall of has a whole course on how to create one of these events: . Several organizations also offer continuing education credits online and as live events. 8. Starting a Podcast or YouTube Channel Gordon’s podcast has grown, now advertisers are interested in sponsoring the podcast. For example, pays to be a sponsor of the podcast. Gordon does not take any old advertiser. He only uses people that he trusts and businesses that offer a relevant service for his audience. People on YouTube will also create income via advertising. 9. Consulting and Coaching If you have been in practice for a while, and have business-related skills, think about consulting others. Generally, you can charge more for consulting than you can counseling because it comes with a level of expertise. Gordon charges two or three times higher for consulting than he does for counseling. Plus, counseling is more of a long-term commitment, whereas coaching may be more of a short-term commitment. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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9 Ways To Diversify Your Income Streams In Private Practice | TPOT 111
01/13/2020
9 Ways To Diversify Your Income Streams In Private Practice | TPOT 111
In this episode, Gordon reveals nine unique ways to diversify income in private practice typically, we trade our time and expertise for money. We have a session, and our clients pay us for that. Trading time for money can be limiting. There are lots of other ways we can generate income for our practice. Gordon identified nine different ways to diversify revenue. The list goes in order from most practice related to less practice related. Nine Ways to Diversify Income in Private Practice 1. Group Sessions Most groups are between four to six people. You can have a group around a particular topic or niche. This way, you are maximizing the amount of money you get for the time spent. 2. Start a Group Practice Partner with other therapists and create a small group. Gordon collects a small portion of their rates to pay for overhead. However, a small piece of that is also the profit margin. This additional income allows Gordon to see fewer clients himself and gives his other therapists more clients. You can bring on therapists for your group practice as independent contractors or employees. 3. Affiliate Marketing Find products and services that other people are producing. When you offer that product or service, then you will get a commission from that. A lot of the links Gordon uses are affiliate links. If a person clicks through the link, then Gordon will get a commission. A big affiliate is Amazon. Gordon says to sign up for an Amazon Associate account. Through the account, you can offer anything from Amazon, link it on your website, and then you will receive a commission. For instance, Gordon recommends . Whenever you click on his site, Gordon will earn money from Amazon. Here are some other resources Gordon recommends: 4. Selling Online Products Gordon offers a as one of his online products. A lot of therapists create handouts and worksheets for clients. You can generate income from providing these resources online. Check out ; they help therapists sell resources through their platform. Another platform is – you can sell digital products on this site. With , they take a percentage of what you sell. However, it can still be a lucrative way to create income. 5. Online Courses Gordon uses for his. There is a lot of stuff that you as a therapist and a private practice owner are knowledgeable about. It doesn’t necessarily have to be courses for other therapists. It can be courses that you offer to your clients. If you do a lot of anger management counseling, think about putting it into a course format and provide it to your clients. 6. Writing a Book Gordon offers a . When people sign up to get it, they use their email address. Then, Gordon will use the email address to market. An eBook will get your name out there and establish you as an expert. EBooks can be used as a lead magnet, or you can sell the eBook online. Make sure the eBook is quality. Do not do it just to make people spend money. 7. Public or Live Events By offering continuing education events, you can create more income. Dr. David Hall of has a whole course on how to create one of these events: . Several organizations also offer continuing education credits online and as live events. 8. Starting a Podcast or YouTube Channel Gordon’s podcast has grown, now advertisers are interested in sponsoring the podcast. For example, pays to be a sponsor of the podcast. Gordon does not take any old advertiser. He only uses people that he trusts and businesses that offer a relevant service for his audience. People on YouTube will also create income via advertising. 9. Consulting and Coaching If you have been in practice for a while, and have business-related skills, think about consulting others. Generally, you can charge more for consulting than you can counseling because it comes with a level of expertise. Gordon charges two or three times higher for consulting than he does for counseling. Plus, counseling is more of a long-term commitment, whereas coaching may be more of a short-term commitment. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Setting SMART Goals For Your New Year In Private Practice | TPOT 110
01/06/2020
Setting SMART Goals For Your New Year In Private Practice | TPOT 110
Happy New Year! In this episode, Gordon talks about setting goals, specifically SMART goals. Plus, Gordon reveals some useful tips when thinking about your annual goals. For instance, make sure to write down your goals, look at them often, and reassess your goals each quarter. In order to accomplish your goals, ensure you have the most helpful resources and tools to set yourself up for success. Writing Down Goals Currently, Gordon writes down his goals using the . You do not necessarily need a planner to write down your annual goals. Gordon started thinking about his goal-setting by writing them down in a blank journal. We have a 40% greater chance of reaching our goals just by writing them down. Think about your goals for the year and write some things out. Gordon says even to write them out using longhand. It causes us to think about things differently. Once you write down your goals, you will need to look back at them throughout the year. SMART Goals SMART stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-specific. The goal must state what is to be achieved. When you are setting a goal, make sure it’s not too ambiguous. For instance, if you wanted to lose weight, the goal needs to be a specific number. In private practice, owners wish to achieve the goal of getting more clients. Again, you need a particular number of clients you are hoping to bring in. For instance, you can say you want to get ten new clients each month. When we set goals, they need to be realistic and attainable. A goal is much better if you give yourself a deadline. Think about why you are in private practice. Are your goals going to help produce the lifestyle you want to have for yourself? Get the . Accomplishing Goals What tools are you going to need to reach your goals? Gordon uses a planner to help him reach his goals. Other tools could be software, automation, or people. Draw on your resources. Gordon switched from contractors to employees – he was able to make that switch by consulting with people. Get feedback from others about your goals. Telling others about your goals will also help keep you accountable. Keep Yourself On Track Gordon uses a planner and Google G-Suite to keep him organized. He tracks the number of phone calls and conversions in G-Suite. The more data you have, the better you can measure your goals. Also, we have the ability to change our goals if we need to. Look at your annual goals once a quarter and think about what needs to be replaced. Have a way to track your goals and hold yourself accountable. Another way to stay on track is by taking small steps. Think about the individual actions that you need to take to reach your goals. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Janeen Herskovitz | Working With Autism Spectrum Families In Private Practice | TPOT 109
12/16/2019
Janeen Herskovitz | Working With Autism Spectrum Families In Private Practice | TPOT 109
In this episode, Janeen Herskovitz joins the show. Janeen speaks about working with autism spectrum families. No additional education is required for private practice owners who wish to niche down to this specialty. Janeen also talks about the importance of self-care for parents with autistic children and where parents can seek support. Later, Janeen describes the inspiration behind her podcast, , and how she utilizes self-disclosure in her practice. Meet Janeen Herskovitz Janeen Herskovitz is a licensed mental health counselor in the state of Florida and owner of. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Special Education from Rowan University in New Jersey (1995) and her Masters of Arts in Mental Health Counseling from Webster University (2010). She has been married to her husband, Joe, since 1995, and together, they have two young-adult children. Janeen’s private practice, , is located in Ponte Vedra, Florida, and helps autism families live more peaceful lives. Her podcast, Autism Blueprint, covers a variety of topics surrounding autism in the home. Working with Autism Spectrum Families You don’t need a lot of experience in autism to work with parents who have autistic children. You will need the qualities that you most likely already have like empathy, listening skills, and the understanding that the parent’s journey is unique to them. As therapists, we are good at having unconditional positive regard. Clinical things Janeen does are screening for post-traumatic stress disorder because the research shows that PTSD is very prevalent among autism spectrum parents. The diagnosis itself is a traumatic event, and people come into it with their childhood trauma. Self-Care It’s so necessary for autism parents to practice self-care. They need to have healthy boundaries in place for themselves, live with intention and practice mindfulness. Autism parents need to lean into their lives and create a new normal. Parents also need to grieve – however, it’s a cycle. There never is any closure to their grief. It’s difficult nowadays because there are a lot of autistic adults speaking up and saying they don’t want anyone feeling bad for them. While this is true, parents still need space to breathe. Seeking Support Janeen always tells parents to ask their child’s school first if they have any support groups. Not every school district has this, but they can point the parents in the right direction. Online groups can be beneficial for parents. Especially when the parents are unable to get out of the house or find a sitter. The idea that parents aren’t alone and there are lots of people going through this will be very relieving and therapeutic. Self-Disclosure Janeen uses self-disclosure to add a level of trust and let others know they are not alone. Sometimes parents can be embarrassed and not want to tell people about their experiences. One time Janeen lost her child in a Target. When they found him, he was completely naked. She laughs about it now, but at the time, it was traumatic, and she never wanted to talk about it. Autism Blueprint Janeen’s podcast, is a real passion of hers. It is something she can talk about every day. Her child is an escape artist; he needs 24/7 attention. There are things in Janeen’s home that you don’t find in a typical house. Many doors inside the house have locks and keys. Plus, the glass doors are now plexiglass because when her child has a meltdown, things can get broken. Meltdowns can be almost catastrophic when your child is twenty-two and nearly six feet tall. Janeen’s home is designed for him. During the podcast, Janeen talks about her home and also interviews experts. When Janeen added her podcast to her website, her SEO went through the roof. Now, SEO is one less thing she has to worry about. The podcast is helping people go and find her. Plus, it’s another resource for Janeen to help people who may otherwise not be able to go to her practice. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Janeen’s Links Click to be added to the Puzzle Peace Counseling Newsletter Like us on | Follow on Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Julie Herres | Preparing Now For Tax Season In Private Practice | TPOT 108
12/09/2019
Julie Herres | Preparing Now For Tax Season In Private Practice | TPOT 108
In this episode, Gordon and Julie Herres from talk about taxes. Being a private practice owner comes with a unique set of financial advantages and disadvantages. Self-employment is a whole lot different than being an employee – many private practice owners are not prepared for the change. Stay tuned to hear Julie discuss why you may want an accounting firm managing your money monthly and the importance of knowing your numbers. Don’t forget to reserve your spot for the upcoming FREE webinar: Meet Julie Herres Julie Herres is the owner of . The firm provides bookkeeping, accounting, CFO and tax services to mental health private practice owners throughout the United States. When Julie founded GreenOak Accounting she started working with a few therapists. Over time, more and more therapist referrals came in and she started noticing trends across the practices that were thriving. Based on those trends she developed success ratios as a way to quickly determine the health of a practice. Today, GreenOak Accounting’s focus on mental health private practice is intentional and geared towards helping business owners understand the story that their numbers are telling. Julie understands what’s involved in managing and growing a practice and is uniquely positioned to be a trusted advisor to clients. Self-Employed Being a business owner is one of the most significant opportunities, income-wise and tax-wise. There’s a big difference between being an employee and being a business owner. When you’re an employee, you’ll get a W-2 or 1099, a lot of the tax work is already done for you. As a business owner, there are many items you can deduct and savings opportunities out there. You need to keep track of what is going on in your business to prepare for taxes or a potential audit. DIY Taxes You may want to do your taxes if you just started your business, and you have minimal income. Another reason you should do your own taxes is if you are very comfortable with your numbers and know your finances like the back of your hand. For most business owners, doing your taxes may not be worth it – there are risks involved in doing your taxes incorrectly. If you have a more complex business structure, typically, you will want to outsource your taxes. Find an Accounting Professional Now is the perfect time to find someone you want to work with. Accountants are going to start getting very busy. You should find someone that is the right fit for you. Dave Ramsey says to find someone who has the heart of a teacher. Most therapists do not have an accounting background; there is a lot of stress that comes around finances. Find an accountant who isn’t going to make you feel like you asked the wrong question and find someone who will be patient with you. Make sure they are trustworthy and are capable of making you feel comfortable. Monthly Accounting Some accountants will help you with your monthly accounting. Julie says it helps them advise the business owner year-round. When you see your accountant once a year, there are a lot of missed opportunities. Monthly accounting doesn’t work for everyone – many people are happy to do the yearly tax accounting. Money Shame People hold back because they are embarrassed by their financial situation. Business owners might be worried that they are being compared to other people who may have more financial means than they do. When someone works with Julie, there is no judgment. Julie and her team know what habits are successful for private practice owners – she can offer different perspectives and useful information based on their experiences. Understanding Your Numbers You shouldn’t be making less money as a group practice owner than as a solo practice owner. You need to know where the money is coming from and where it is going. At one point, Gordon paid his therapists out of his pocket, whereas his therapists should be making enough to cover their costs and then some. The end of the year is a great time to analyze your data and find places to decrease expenses and increase profitability. Should you get rid of the insurance panels that may not be producing for you? It’s essential to be knowledgeable about your numbers. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Julie’s Resources Call GreenOak Accounting: (571) 208-2065 Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Perry Rosenbloom | Using The New Social Genie In Your Private Practice | TPOT 107
12/04/2019
Perry Rosenbloom | Using The New Social Genie In Your Private Practice | TPOT 107
In this episode, Perry Rosenbloom, Founder of Brighter Vision, joins the show. Perry and Gordon discuss most recent project, Social Genie. Is keeping up with social media challenging for your busy schedule? Perry and his team make social media a breeze with Social Genie. Later, Perry and Gordon talk about how to get your website the best search engine optimization. Meet Perry Rosenbloom Perry has always had a connection to the field of therapy and therapists, having family both working in the field and benefiting from it. He founded Brighter Vision in March 2014 with a passion to use business savvy and web development know-how to help therapists both fully realize their career ambitions and help the most people possible. Since then, Brighter Vision has grown to be the world’s best therapist website design company, as well as one of the most trusted names in our industry, helping thousands of therapists throughout the world. Brighter Vision Brighter Vision makes marketing simple for therapists. They have over 5,000 therapists on their platform who trust them with their websites. The website will look like you’ve spent thousands of dollars when, in reality, you only pay a few dollars a day. They have been at this for about five years now. After working with his mother-in-law, Perry knew he needed to help her with her digital presence. After some research, he realized how much he could assist the therapist market. He learned more about therapy and behavioral health – now, he focuses exclusively on therapists. They can build websites at an agency-like caliber at a fraction of the cost. It was a long strange journey to get where they are now, but they have 27 employees and have a lot of fun working with their clients. Social Genie One of the advantages Brighter Vision has is working with thousands of therapists. Because they work just in behavioral health, they understand the needs of the community from a marketing standpoint. They spent about six months talking to therapists about their pain points of social media. With , after fifteen minutes of work, you can set up your social media or the next few months. You can edit and customize posts that are already premade. If you work with couples, you can use the couple’s campaign, the divorce campaign, and the infidelity campaign. Each campaign can have nearly 90 posts – you can schedule them however you wish. Then, you can upload your logo and have it embedded in all of your images. Some therapists spend hours working on social media to customize it. However, you can easily spend fifteen minutes working with Social Genie and be done with social media for months. Clients can request content and what sort of campaigns they are looking for. Then, Perry and his team will create the content. “Position yourself as an authority and start conversations.” Search Engine Optimization When you do SEO, it’s about providing content to Google that is relevant for what people are searching for. What services or specialties do you have? Then, write a specific page for your website on each of those individual specialties and services. Brighter Vision can easily add these pages to help with your SEO; they take a lot of the work from the client. Otherwise, there are lots of resources online about what Google needs for SEO. The better you rank on Google, the more people will see your website and the more clients that will join your private practice. Design Team When you sign up for Brighter Vision, you get your very own design team. The team will build you a first draft of your website in about two weeks. Then, you can talk to the team and edit the site how you want. Plus, there is a sticky note function on your website, so the design team can see exactly how you want to change the site. This takes out the hassle of having to email the design team back and forth. Once you are happy with your website, you can get unlimited support from the tech team. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Perry’s Resources Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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James Marland | Using Virtual Assistants In Your Private Practice | TPOT 106
11/24/2019
James Marland | Using Virtual Assistants In Your Private Practice | TPOT 106
In this episode, Gordon and James Marland talk all about virtual assistants. Hiring a virtual assistant for your private practice has so many benefits. Virtual assistants can save you both valuable time and money. Plus, James gives tips on how to find the right VA for your practice and ways to make the hiring process as smooth as possible. Meet James Marland James Marland is Chief Operations Officer at Move Forward Virtual Assistants with over 18 years of experience in social service and non-profit organizations. James loves the power of learning and holds a Master’s degree in Ministry and Business Administration. He started his career in the mental health field working in a shelter for children and has held positions in Family Based, Day Hospital, Crisis, Intake to Inpatient, Youth Minister, and Manager of a Mental Health Triage program. Along the way, James has learned people are resilient, inspiring, and capable of so much if we offer them hope and give them a vision and a path for success. James loves cooperative games of all kinds and can be found organizing a board game night with friends or playing a casual game online. He has lived in Lancaster County, PA for the last 11 years with his wife of 21 years and his active 14-year old son. He is currently writing a few times a month in his new blog Finding a Virtual Assistant A job description is your first filter. Once you know what you want your virtual assistant to do, write down a description of who you want them to be. Understand why and what you are trying to accomplish. Most therapists didn’t go to school to answer the phone, schedule appointments, and fight with insurance companies. A VA frees up the therapist to do the things they love to do. James says experience is one of the best things to look for. Have they been successful in using technology? They should be able to bring the same experience over to your business. James’ first failure was hiring an event manager. They had a lot of the same skills a virtual assistant uses but didn’t have the office background. They lasted one day with James. Check and make sure they have the right skills to manage an office. Plus, your virtual assistant should have the right personality. They need to build rapport quickly, but not take it too far and cross boundaries. Getting along with others virtually is also an essential trait for a competent virtual assistant. Another thing James looks for is someone who is a problem-solver – they need to be able to take the resources the private practice owner gives them and solve any problems that arise. Manager Economics If two people can do the same task and the quality is pretty much the same, always have the lower-cost employee do the job. When you are thinking about how much a VA will cost or if you feel their work won’t be the same quality – at first, it probably won’t be the same quality. Over time, they will develop the skills to do the task at the same quality. For example, you can hire someone for $1,000 to paint the house, or you can hire someone for $500 to paint a house. All around, the quality will stay the same. Who do you hire? Manager economics says to hire the person who will cost less. A manager’s time is worth $100 to $200 an hour, whereas a VA is worth $20 to $30 an hour. Sure, you could save $30 by doing the task yourself; however, you could be losing out on $200 by doing it. Protecting Time We all have the same amount of time – how do you protect it? If water is valuable to you, then you don’t waste it. Time should be the same rule. We have all sorts of tools to manage our time, like calendars, alarm clocks, and reminders. A virtual assistant is just a tool to manage our scarce resource of time. Hiring Process Have useful inputs for your hiring pool. James likes to hire people he already knows or a referral from someone else. One of his best employees is someone who was referred to by someone else. A good job description will also help with the hiring process. If they don’t fit the job description, then they won’t be a good fit for the job. Also, map out the interview process. Do a 15-minute phone-screen to check for skills. Then, conduct the interview and give scores for each of their answers. That way, you can compare their answers to other people you are interviewing. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! James’ Resources Resources Use Code: Cyber19 Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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When Change Comes Unexpectedly In Private Practice | TPOT 105
11/18/2019
When Change Comes Unexpectedly In Private Practice | TPOT 105
In this episode, Gordon explains how private practice owners can embrace change. Change is going to happen; the sooner we can embrace the change, the easier it will be to handle it. Some ways to ease the potential pain of change will be preparing ahead of time. Have systems in place, capture everything, and break things up into smaller pieces. Later, Gordon speaks about the importance of having a professional will and the significance of being uncomfortable. Prepare Ahead of Time Gordon had no way of predicting his wife’s fall. However, he does have a network of friends in town that could help out. One of his good friends went to be with his wife in the hospital. Your network is important to remember when we think about being prepared for the unexpected. All Gordon had to do was send one text to his intake coordinator to cancel all of his appointments. The systems and people were in place for him to be prepared for the unexpected. Change is always going to happen. Capture Everything It is so essential to have a way to capture everything. Throughout the days and weeks, we get a lot of stuff handed to us. You need a way to capture all of these things. Gordon knows he needs some low-tech stuff – he uses a planner as a capture device. As things come up, Gordon starts writing it down and making a note of it. Writing everything down will help us look at our goals and bring it from inside of our brains and into the physical world. Another exercise is to brainstorm everything that you want to accomplish and throw it all on a whiteboard. It doesn’t matter how it’s organized – dump your brain! If you are pelted with unexpected changes, then do a brain dump. Break Everything Into Smaller Pieces Write everything down into individual steps, so you know how to accomplish something big you are faced with. Writing things down not only works in a situation where we are overwhelmed, but it works for running our practice in general. We all have a dream about how big we want our practice to be – take those dreams and write them down. Looking at those goals will make it less overwhelming. Write down three things you want to accomplish each day. If you start thinking about too many things, it will become overwhelming. Tackle one thing at a time, because this method is how we will get anything done. Multi-tasking doesn’t exist – we are not capable of handling matters in this way. Embrace Change The more we can embrace change, the better we can handle the change. When a toilet overfills, the only choice we have is to get into a mess. Embrace the fact that it’s going to be messy for awhile. After it’s fixed and cleaned, you will be back on the road of life. Anxiety has a way of tricking us into thinking we can’t handle things sometimes. Most of us are equipped to handle the things that are handed to us in life. It might be painful and uncomfortable; however, we can always work our way through it. Professional Wills If you were to die tomorrow, what would happen to your private practice? What would happen to your clients? It’s not something we need to dwell on, but we do need to have some things in place. For example, you need a plan for someone to get into your computers and log in to your accounts. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Brent Sweitzer | Getting Things Done (GTD) In Private Practice | TPOT 104
11/04/2019
Brent Sweitzer | Getting Things Done (GTD) In Private Practice | TPOT 104
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon and Brent Sweitzer, LPC, RPT dive deep into the book, Brent describes how the methods of GTD changed his life and some of his favorite tools from David Allen. Plus, Brent explains his recent jump into full-time private practice, despite not thinking he was 100% ready for the change. Brent Sweitzer Brent Sweitzer, LPC, RPT specializes in helping distant couples reconnect and in helping children play their way through difficult emotions through play therapy. He is a Registered Play Therapist, which means he has received special training and supervision in using the medium of play to work with children of all ages. He is also extensively trained in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy, a well-researched approach that helps couples overcome long-standing conflicts in order to feel closer and communicate better. He runs his own private practice, , that serves the communities of Cumming, Johns Creek, Alpharetta, and the surrounding communities in Atlanta, GA. He is married and has two young children of his own. When he’s not connecting with clients or his family, he’s often exploring the great outdoors or strumming his guitar. Getting Things Done Brent found the book , and it spoke to him so clearly. There are so many distractions and challenges with work now as therapists and entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, we have to define a lot of our work. Brent knew the book was the answer – he went all in and applied the methodology to his life since January. Gordon was also blown away by the book. David Allen breaks it down into manageable pieces. Getting Things Done for Teens Since Brent works with children, he is always looking for things that simplify the concepts from Getting Things Done. That why he is a big fan of There are these things called transformer tools – decide if you care about something and then decide if you are committed to doing it. It’s so simple but an unconscious choice. We can learn how to do it and respond to these challenges consciously. What Are Contexts? How much time do you have available? Imagine having a list of things you can do with a spare ten or fifteen minutes. Have a list of items already decided that would be possible to do in between clients or in line at the DMV. This method has been a real change for Brent. GTD is about efficiency – not in a cold kind of way. We only have 24 hours in a day, and we only have so much energy. GTD helps us to list the things that we can do that are mindless. Keep your life moving! Channel Your Inner CEO Brent loves being with people. He has a left side of his brain, but he wasn’t able to pull it up when he needed it. GTD has helped Brent think that way. Being a private practice owner means you are an entrepreneur and a CEO. You need to be thinking like an executive at least some of the time. OmniFocus is designed to align with GTD – Brent tried to use it with Trello. So far, it’s going well. For those people who are digitally oriented, Brent says it works well with Apple Reminders. It’s a great way to capture all your ideas while you are out and about or even exercising. However, it is essential to remember to go back and look at the ideas you captured. Full-Time Private Practice Marketing your private practice is a part-time job in itself. Brent didn’t know when he would be able to leap into full-time private practice. He wanted to start next year when his son joined Kindergarten. His leap into private practice happened a little sooner than he planned for. Brent needed time and focus on putting all of his knowledge into place. He put his foot on the accelerator to market his practice and himself to the community. He is actually going to be speaking at a mental health symposium at a high school about communication between parents and children. After Killin’It Camp, Brent was inspired to create the next step for people after his speeches. He is in the process of developing an email series – allowing himself to stay in contact with potential clients. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Brent’s Resources 678-701-7545 Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Connecting and Google G-Suite in Private Practice | TPOT 103
10/28/2019
Connecting and Google G-Suite in Private Practice | TPOT 103
In this episode, Gordon describes the inspiration behind his – it was created to quickly write session and progress notes while using standard phrasing menu items and checkboxes. Gordon also explains the tools on G-Suite and how therapists can use G-mail and still be HIPAA compliant. Later, Gordon discusses the importance of connecting with people and some of his favorite highlights from HIPAA HIPAA stands for Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. Most of us forget what this actually means. Typically, we think of it as a big brother force that is always ready to slap us on the wrist. Gordon was looking for a way to send an email that was HIPAA secure. HIPAA requires a BAA (Business Associate Agreement). After doing some research, Gordon realized you could get a BAA from Google. However, you have to get the paid version of Google. At that time, it was called Google for Work – now it’s titled G-Suite for Business. The price point is very economical. G-Suite Gordon got the BAA from Google and was able to use the URL for his business as his email address. It costs $6 a month for the basic version and $12 a month for the more advanced version. When you get a Google account, you will also get a whole suite of tools: Google docs, sheets, drive, and forms. Gordon’s e-course, , teaches us how to maximize our productivity using these tools. Playing around with the tools, Gordon started to make templates. A lot of the stuff therapists do require writing the same things over and over again. Progress notes and sessions notes usually have the same type of phrasing. Gordon had a template he was using, and he thought there had to be a way to create a note for each client. Now, Gordon has come up with a . At first, Gordon started to use Form Publisher, and it worked to produce a narrative in a Google Doc format. However, using Form Publisher was not HIPAA secure because they did not provide a BAA. Gordon’s Helper allows us to quickly write session and progress notes using standard phrasing menu items and checkboxes. Connecting with People At Killin’It Camp, Gordon was able to get to catch up with a lot of other private practice consultants. Despite being an introvert, Gordon was excited to talk to other consultants, network, learn from others, and teach about G-Suite. Now, The Practice of Therapy Podcast has loads of new guests to be in the show from people who were at the conference. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Sarah Leitshuh | Navigating The Overwhelm In Private Practice | TPOT 102
10/21/2019
Sarah Leitshuh | Navigating The Overwhelm In Private Practice | TPOT 102
Do you ever feel overwhelmed? In this episode, Gordon and discuss the progression of practicing therapy to consulting people on the business side of private practice. Often, private practice owners crave the flexibility of being an entrepreneur. However, flexibility isn’t always a good thing as Sarah can attest to. Stay tuned to hear all the ways owners can navigate the overwhelm of private practice. Meet Sarah Leitschuh Are you ready to reduce the overwhelm that has overtaken your life as a result of trying to balance your work and personal life? Schedule a complimentary 20-minute Vibrant Therapist Clarity call and walk away with a strategy that you can implement today in order to find yourself feeling more energized and less depleted. You can access my schedule . Flexibility in Private Practice Sarah quickly realized that flexibility could be a bad thing. She found herself overwhelmed – it was hard for her not to have enough time or energy for anything she wanted to do. Sarah was working all the time and not seeing the results she wanted to see. Plus, she was supervising others – her supervisees were saying the same things that she was thinking. Sarah knew there was something she wasn’t doing. There needed to be a way to show up to private practice and still have a life in the outside world. Taking Inventory We can find the path to doing things more easily – but we don’t necessarily have the big picture of what is contributing to our overwhelm. Here are some questions you need to ask yourself: what is contributing to your overwhelm? Where do you feel like you are wasting a lot of your time? Also, find out where you are leaking time, energy, and money. Once you fix these leaks, you will have more time to devote to things that could fill your bucket. Feeling Overwhelmed Private practice owners feel overwhelmed because of the constant need to document. Sometimes, their caseload is full of clients that they are not passionate about working with. Or, the schedule can be overwhelming. Your schedule may not be working out – are you scheduling too many things outside of therapy? These extra activities could be stressing you out. Gordon says therapists need to stick to their schedule. Do not let your clients run your schedule for you. Solid Boundaries Sarah says having boundaries is one of the ways to beat the overwhelm in private practice. Have limits as to which clients you can take into your practice. Have a solid list of referrals to give to your clients if you cannot take them in. Plus, have your set hours. If clients ask to see you outside of your hours – set your boundaries and let them know what is possible. Gordon says it was overwhelming when he started taking clients that were not his ideal clients. He is not a drug and alcohol addiction specialist – he gets a lot of calls about this, but his practice is not equipped to do this kind of therapy. Constant Evaluation Sarah recommends that quarterly or monthly therapists take a look at the state of their practice. Are you taking action to get you closer to vision? Or are you taking steps that are pulling you away from your vision? Evaluating regularly will keep your practice on track of meeting your goals and fulfilling your vision. Tabling For Later We do not have time for everything! It is beneficial to table things intentionally. At the end of 2019, some of the items on your brain dump list are not able to happen this year. Write this list down for 2020 to free up energy on things you can get done this year. It will no longer be hanging over your head for the rest of 2019. Find a blank spot on your calendar and make it sacred. Prioritize your well-being – it is just as important as seeing a client. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Sarah’s Resources Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Michelle Hardman | Having A Primed Private Practice | TPOT 101
10/14/2019
Michelle Hardman | Having A Primed Private Practice | TPOT 101
In this episode, Gordon talks with . They discuss the importance of understanding how to run a business when starting a private practice. Therapists do not get training on how to run a business, so starting a private practice can be tricky. However, Michelle wants to bridge that gap of knowledge and coach therapists through the intricacies of running a business. Plus, Michelle tells us about her Primed Planner, the perfect tool to remind private practice owners to practice self-care, network, and follow-up with clients. Meet Michelle Hardman Even though she knew at 15 years old she wanted to be a therapist, life always has some interesting detours! After nearly 16 years in corporate human resources leadership, Michelle decided to follow her dream to counsel people in the context of their whole life rather than just their career life. Now, as a Licensed Professional Counselor and owner of a successful private practice, Michelle enjoys working with adults who have anxiety and/or trauma histories. Michelle is also a Certified Daring Way Facilitator, teaching curricula based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. While Michelle is honored to be in this clinical space, she still loves all things “business!” By leveraging her unique combination of corporate and clinical experience, as well as her MBA in strategic management, she is an exceptional business coach to fellow clinicians in private practice. By teaching clinicians about critical business elements such as marketing, branding, networking and business planning, as well as creating invaluable tools such as The Primed Planner™, Michelle is committed to helping amazing clinicians become confident business owners! Business Coach When Michelle grew her private practice, people kept asking how she did it. Michelle took for granted the things she knew from her MBA; she applied all her business knowledge without even knowing it. The idea of coaching on the business side of private practice grew organically. Michelle doesn’t have a secret sauce; she loves talking with clinicians and breaking down business for them. Clinicians will have an epiphany that the business side of practice doesn’t have to be so scary. Brené Brown Workshops Brené Brown’s work is so relatable and easy to break down into digestible bits. Her research and the way she presents it fascinates Michelle. Brené’s work is part of the human experience, so that is why it is easy to relate with. Michelle works with people who have anxiety and trauma, so shame almost always presents itself in those situations. Clinicians also feel guilt when they go into private practice because they feel like they are supposed to know how to run a business even though the courses were never taught in graduate school. Even though Michelle has an MBA, she still thinks it’s still scary. Therapist Shame It’s easy for self-care to fall off the radar; sometimes, therapists are the worst ones to stay on top of it. Michelle felt like an outsider coming into the world of private practice. In graduate school, we are taught to feel shame about running a profitable business. We are told that therapists shouldn’t be working to make money; they should be working to make a change. There’s a stigma that marketing and business do not help people; that is not true. We got into this business to help people; however, we deserve to have thriving lives of our own. Private Practice Sales Michelle says you don’t have to be a salesperson; you need to showcase your strengths and skills. Marketing is about relationships and cultivating those relationships; it’s not about selling. We should never be making a sale. Instead, we should be putting ourselves out there. If you repel people, then they are not the right fit for your practice. The small things matter most. We can only do so many things in a day, so think about the little things you can do today to move the needle forward. The Primed Planner If we are not trained in business, and it feels overwhelming and scary – having a tool that has those prompts along the way to keep us engaged will help our practices flourish. Michelle wanted to put an engaging structure around the business of private practice. The Primed Planner is published and available! It was developed in the spirit and love of Michelle’s company. The planner creates prompts for self-care, networking, and follow-up items. Yes, it’s a monthly and weekly calendar, but there is also an annual roadmap. Michelle’s planner allows us to take the time to think about our goals and the things that energize us. Goal Setting Michelle is a big believer in knowing what your core values are. When building a house, you want a strong foundation for it to sit on. In your business, if you do not have a strong message, your marketing will come off as inauthentic. We deserve a solid foundation. Think about your core values and how you align your business to build on those values. Then, we can start thinking about our goals for the actual business. If you don’t know where you’re going, how are you going to get there? Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Michelle’s Resources Email: Michelle@MichelleHardman.com Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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SPECIAL EPISODE | Essential Elements of Private Practice | TPOT 100
10/07/2019
SPECIAL EPISODE | Essential Elements of Private Practice | TPOT 100
In this episode, The Practice of Therapy celebrates its 100th EPISODE! Gordon plays clips from some of his favorite episodes, including guests like Jeff Guenther, Allison Puryear, Joe Sanok, Kasey Compton, Mike Michalowicz, Paul Jarvis, Melvin Varghese, and David Hall. The clips cover a variety of private practice topics like marketing, return on investment, processes, systems, and how to find support. Jeff Guenther: Say More About That In this clip, Jeff Guenther talks about why some therapists get “ghosted” by their clients and he also gives specific examples. His podcast, dives deep into the client’s personal journey of finding a therapist and going to counseling. Jeff talks to people about why they wanted to go to therapy, what kind of therapist they were looking for, and why. He covers why some mental health counselors were excellent matches and why others didn’t work and also touches on what they thought therapy was going to be like and if it met their expectations. Say More About That asks their guests if they have advice for therapists to help them be better or more effective counselors. Jeff Guenther, LPC, is a therapist in Portland, OR. He has been in since 2005 and currently leads workshops on how therapists can and attract more clients online. Allison Puryear: Marketing Isn’t Scary The most common struggle for private practice owners is being afraid to market and being uncomfortable with the idea of marketing. Some people think marketing is something a businessperson does, not a clinician. Allison says every client has their ideal therapist out there. It is up to the therapist, as an act of service, to help our clients find us and overcome their struggles. Know that it is about showing up and continuing to try and build your practice. If someone has a phone call during their first two weeks of private practice, then that’s an anomaly. If you build it, they will not come; you have to tell people about your practice to build it. Allison Puryear, LCSW is the person behind , , and is a private practice coach and consultant. Joe Sanok: Return on Investment (ROI) Depending on which phase of growth you are in, it will determine where and how a clinician in private practice should spend their time and money resources to get the best ROI. When you start your private practice, your greatest asset is the time you spend. In this phase, attention should be spent on bootstrapping and marketing your practice. Spend time making those community contacts and developing relationships with other professionals in your business. Plus, Joe explains the benefits of outsourcing as much as possible so you can continue running your practice and seeing clients. Joe Sanok is the person behind . Joe is a speaker, mental health counselor, business consultant, and podcaster. Kasey Compton: Processes and Systems Kasey’s phenomenal growth (80 staff members and a million-dollar practice in just three years) came primarily out of her ability to create processes and systems to make the growth as seamless as possible. She put most of her effort on the front end into mapping things out so that the processes and systems were well defined. Kasey also said that she made some mistakes and learned from them rather than let them ultimately defeat her. For instance, her partner was high-strung, which made their workplace culture toxic. Three years later, the people who quit her practice are back and notice the immense changes. Kasey Compton built a million-dollar practice with over seventy-five staff members in less than two years from the ground up. She is the President/CEO of with multiple offices located in Kentucky. Mike Michalowicz: Profit First With Mike’s “Profit First” system, he turns conventional wisdom on its head and gives us another way of thinking about how we manage our finances and look at profit. The traditional way of thinking about making a profit is this: Income – Expenses = Profit It’s what we get to keep after everything else is paid for; operating expenses, salaries, and taxes. The problem is that the bigger we grow, the more our expenses grow too. It becomes a never-ending cycle that keeps our profitability at bay and keeps our businesses unhealthy. Mike says this line of thinking is kind of like saying, “my health comes last.” Mike says that a better way is to allocate our profit first rather than let our expenses and operating costs determine what we get. The premise is to allocate a percentage of the income on the front end for profit. It looks like this: Income – Profit = Expenses This, of course, seems like unconventional wisdom. Mike goes on to explain that by taking our profit first, we are better able to take control of our business’ health and operate at a level that is more sustainable and realistic. By Mike Michalowicz’s 35th birthday, he had founded and sold two companies – one to private equity and another to a Fortune 500. Today he is running his third multi-million dollar venture, Profit First Professionals. Paul Jarvis: Bigger Isn’t Always Better If people are working from home, then others think they do not have a legitimate business. Paul is a one-person business; he does work with contractors but has never hired an employee because he doesn’t want to be a boss. We should reconsider the idea that bigger is always better. Paul’s book isn’t about anti-growth; it is thinking critically about growth. The key is to think about how the business works and runs. If we grew our businesses, we would have to hire people and then become a manager. Is that the position you want to put yourself in? Paul Jarvis is a writer and designer who’s had his own company of one for the last two decades. His latest book, Company of One, explores why bigger isn’t always better in business. Melvin Varghese: Income in Private Practice If all you do is focus on income generation, you are eventually going to burn out. Time flexibility and creating a lifestyle that makes sense is far more critical than the money you will make. When a person reaches a net income of around $150,000 annually, then it just becomes unmanageable. Their quality of life will not increase with additional money. It is better to have a strong foundation that lasts long-term rather than something that takes off quickly and fizzles out. Melvin Varghese, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist in private practice in Philadelphia, PA. In 2015, he launched , a podcast and blog to help our field learn the business and marketing lessons we don’t often learn in our training. David Hall: Finding Supports From Others in Private Practice Private practice can be lonely sometimes; we should find like-minded people to support us in our journeys. David gives us thoughts on proximity and finding support. Support can come in many different forms, and David speaks on ways to find resources and how to get your name out into your community. Dr. Stephen “David” Hall heads up content and creative direction as the “Chief Maven” of PsychMaven. He began his work as a psychotherapist in 2005, and he currently holds clinical licenses in Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Jill Barnett Kaufman | Diversifying Your Income Within Your Niche | TPOT Podcast 099
09/30/2019
Jill Barnett Kaufman | Diversifying Your Income Within Your Niche | TPOT Podcast 099
In this episode, Jill Barnett Kaufman tells us all about the courses she provides for continuing education. Her latest course is on how parents can redirect children’s behavior. Jill describes the four reasons a child may be misbehaving and the ways we can identify these behaviors. Plus, Jill explains all the different niches she has been part of including parenting classes, court-ordered co-parenting classes, and her upcoming course on thriving through a divorce. Meet Jill Barnett Kaufman Jill Barnett Kaufman is an experienced therapist, a certified Parent Educator, and a Certified Divorce Mediator. She provides divorce counseling, couples counseling, co-parenting counseling, family counseling, and divorce mediation. She recently co-authored an online training for therapists entitled which has been approved for 6 CEUs through NASW. She is the mother of three adult children and is committed to helping raise a generation of children who have high self-esteem and a well-developed sense of responsibility for themselves and their community. Jill’s Course Jill researched her course, , and the specifics on getting approval from the Continuing Education Unit (CEU). Everything we do as therapists requires a lot of steps, and you need to jump through numerous hoops to accomplish it. It’s a fifteen-hour course, not all of it is necessary for therapists. Jill took the parts that she thinks therapists would need to know. Currently, it is six hours of classroom time and is available for people to take. Jill uses , it’s a straightforward platform with an excellent sales page, and everything is automated. Teaching Clients About Parents look at a child when they misbehave as being bad. Jill’s course, will teach you how to look at a child as being discouraged instead of bad. Jill teaches therapists on the varying ways to encourage the child, so you’re not disciplining or punishing. Instead, you’re looking for positive ways to discipline so they are learning while understanding what they did was unacceptable. Goals of a Misbehaving Child There are four goals of a misbehaving child: Attention Power Revenge Avoidance You discipline the child differently depending on the intention of the child. You find out the goal of the child by analyzing the way you are feeling. If you are feeling irritated, their goal is attention. If you are feeling angry, their goal is power. If you’re feeling hurt their goal is revenge. If you are feeling pity for the child, then their goal is an avoidance. Parenting Expert Niche You need to involve the parents to give them the proper skills to parent their child. Therapists can develop a niche working with children and will want to have a session or two with their parents. You can also go to schools – Jill has done training for teachers and parents at schools. This helped Jill get her name out into the community. Now, Jill has people contacting her consistently because her name is out there as a parenting expert. Court-Ordered Parenting Classes There’s a course in Jill’s state that she would have to take to be approved for court-ordered parenting classes. With this course, Jill knows people who have developed a curriculum based on this work to teach the course to parents. However, Jill’s niche is divorce and co-parenting. Judges have ordered parents to take co-parenting classes with Jill. There is no special certification you need to do these sessions with parents. Thriving Through Divorce Jill is working on an online course about thriving through a divorce. The course is for people who are struggling with their separation. The reason Jill came up with this idea is that there are not enough things out there to support people who are going through a divorce. Also, Jill likes the idea of having something out there that she can share with people without having to do the one-on-one sessions. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Jill’s Resources Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Juan Santos | Being Genuine And Authentic In Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 098
09/23/2019
Juan Santos | Being Genuine And Authentic In Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 098
In this episode, Gordon speaks with Juan Santos about what it was like for Juan to open a private practice straight out of graduate school. Plus, Juan gives valuable tips on how to market a private practice. He says the essential factor is to be your most genuine and authentic self when spreading the word about your practice. Later, Gordon and Juan discuss a unique niche – immigration evaluations. Meet Juan Santos Juan Santos is a Licensed Professional Counselor in North Carolina. He is married to his wife, Elizabeth Livingston Santos, together they operate a family-owned private practice. Mr. Santos is a father to his 5-year-old daughter Nola and 3-year-old son Alexander. Mr. Santos and his family enjoy traveling, outdoor activities, and spending time with family and friends. Mr. Santos specializes in helping couples build healthy sustainable relationships and supporting individuals with their immigration case by writing immigration evaluations. He utilizes his experience in working with immigration attorneys and writing hardship evaluations to guide clinicians interested in the specialty. Juan is currently a doctorate student at the University of the Cumberland’s where he is a pursuing a Ph.D. in Counselor Education and Supervision. Mr. Santos hopes to utilize his doctorate studies to strengthen his clinical skills. Mr. Santos has attained recognition in publishing courses and self-help books aimed to address issues ranging from anxiety to relationship, he was the recipient Winston Salem State University Alumni Achiever 2015, the Winston Salem Under 40 Leadership Achiever, and the 2015 Notable Latino of the Triad Award. Juan has presented his work in immigration hardship evaluations with GoodTherapy, the LPCANC fall conference 2018, and on a notable podcast. Marketing Juan started his private practice journey with support; he was so fortunate to have someone that put him under his wing. Juan wasn’t taught how to run a private practice or how to utilize marketing in graduate school, so this assistance was essential. Juan stays genuine in his marketing practices; he is true to himself. At first, he struggled with being himself because, at school, they were taught about professionalism. His first professional videos did not go well because people could tell it was not his authentic self. Private Practice Post Graduate School Juan is the type of person to jump into the pool before learning how to swim. After getting his degree, Juan knew he wanted to start a private practice right away. Juan utilized his mentor to help him with things that Juan would need to learn to succeed. Plus, he read books and listened to podcasts to push himself. Immigration Evaluations Juan helps his clients who are working with attorneys on their immigration status. Depending on the type of case will depend on the type of evaluation needed. For instance, an example of a hardship case is when a citizen of the United States has an undocumented partner. The clinician is going to work with the citizen about documenting would it be like to be without their partner. This will lead to potential diagnoses and recommendations. The attorney will then use this information in court when they are presenting their client’s case. Marketing Your Niche Primarily, Juan partners with immigration attorneys, clinics, and churches to get his name out in the community. More than likely, these are places his ideal client is going to visit. Next, Juan explains how to market a private practice using social media. The first thing to do is look for a platform. Where do you think your clients spend most of their time on? For instance, Instagram is getting more younger folks than Facebook is. Social media should be to support those out there who will navigate towards their goals, whether it’s with Juan or without Juan. Marketing doesn’t have to be looking for the sale; be genuine above all else. Being Bilingual in Private Practice If you are not bilingual, some services will bring a translator to your meetings. When Juan works with couples, he shares his experiences with having a wife who is not bilingual. Differences in languages and culture can massively affect our relationships at home and work. As clinicians, we all go through some culture class. However, one consistent problem in relationships is communicating through the lenses of our cultures. Our society has a significant diversity overlap, so understanding these barriers will go a long way. Juan’s Resources Call Juan: 336-707-1723 Email: juansantos@santoscounseling.com Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Mio Yokoi | Mental Wellness As A Private Practice Niche | TPOT Podcast 097
09/16/2019
Mio Yokoi | Mental Wellness As A Private Practice Niche | TPOT Podcast 097
In this episode, Gordon speaks with , a registered psychotherapist,. First, Mio explains why mental health needs to be an ongoing discussion rather than something people only are concerned about when in distress. Then, Mio describes how she was fortunate enough to get her private practice website up and running over ten years ago; age is helpful when Google is ranking websites. Stay tuned to hear some ways Mio has diversified her income, and Mio explains the ways she has overcome the obstacles that come along with starting a podcast. Meet Mio Yokoi Mio Yokoi is a registered psychotherapist, podcaster and Supporter of Growth, based out of Toronto, Canada. Her main goal is to serve meaningfully, through working with clients in her private practice and by consulting with other helping professionals to help them be of service in the most ideal way possible for them. Her podcast, , is devoted to sharing stories and insights to inspire as many people as possible to make their mental and emotional wellness a top priority. Her website is Mental Health Should be an Ongoing Concern Mio has been in private practice for ten years now. She wants people to think of their mental and emotional wellness as an ongoing need versus only when they are in severe distress. Mio developed the idea that we should be thinking about our mental and emotional health just as much as we think about our physical health. We think about our physical health on an ongoing basis to ward off illness and other physical distress. When Mio first started her practice ten years ago, she wanted to provide more accessible therapy services. At the time, Google searches were not a big thing. So, with her marketing background, Mio was able to put up her website in a short period, and it gained a lot of traffic. Marketing a Niche The ways to market online have expanded since Mio first started. One thing Google looks for with SEO is the age of the website. Mio has had her website up for ten years. It gets a lot of traffic and ranks well on Google. Depending on the day, she may still come up on the first page results. For people starting now, Mio says SEO is going to be tough; there are so many more people online these days. However, you need a website because it’s a 24/7 business card. Diversifying Income When Mio first started her practice, she immediately wanted to think of ways to diversify her income sources because Google can be unreliable. At any given time, Google can decide not to rank your website well. A few months ago, Google changed their algorithms, so Mio’s website dropped. Plus, Mio didn’t want to rely solely on client work. Think of it as a table; you want to have four solid legs that provide you with a solid foundation. Mio has done consulting work and workshops to help diversify her income. Currently, Mio is working on establishing an online business, that’s one of the reasons why she contacted Pat Flynn. Starting a Podcast People are surprised to hear Mio has challenges with verbal fluency. It takes a lot of internal work for Mio to speak and get her ideas across. Inside there is a lot of action happening. Pat Flynn offered Mio access to his course, which helped out immensely. Figuring out podcasting on your own can be challenging, so having the steps laid out is extremely helpful. If Mio didn’t get the push from Pat and the resources he provided, she would be overwhelmed and still trying to figure it all out. You can listen to Mio’s podcast . Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Mio’s Resources Be on Mio’s Podcast: mio@solidwellness.org Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Beating The Overwhelm In Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 096
09/09/2019
Beating The Overwhelm In Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 096
Have you ever been so overwhelmed in your private practice that it completely took over your day? In this episode, Gordon gives helpful tools and resources to beat the overwhelm and take control of your day. In particular, Gordon utilizes self-care, his daily planner, and the getting things done philosophies. Self-Care Focus on the things that matter most in your life, and don’t lose sight of that. Self-care is essential for therapists and counselors because it allows us to recharge and be fully present for our clients. If we have not been taking advantage of self-care for the week, we may face the dangers of burnout. Gordon mentions how he practices self-care by finding time to help out his family and taking hikes. Breaking Things Down Gordon has to remind himself to focus on his time management skills continually. He is not a naturally organized person, and he has to regroup now and then. By regrouping daily instead of weekly it makes it easier to find things. Have a system in place, so you know what is most important and what is least important. In some cases, you may have to stop what you are doing entirely and tend to those things, like family emergencies. Gordon points out sometimes we assign jobs as “urgent” even if they are not urgent, just important. Marking everything as urgent will lead to severe burnout. The other quadrants are urgent but not important and not important, not urgent. Gordon points out that social media can be a time waster and often results in doing mindless stuff. Take Time To Plan Your Day Gordon currently uses a planner each morning to figure out how he will spend his day. He recommends using a pencil and pen planner because it forces us to slow down and focus on our day. Gordon uses the full-focus planner, spending that type of money on a planner encourages him to use it. Plus, it has time management and productivity tools built into the planner. The goals you write down should be tied down to the weekly goals, which in turn are tied into your big-picture goals. This concept made sense to Gordon. Focus on a few things at a time daily; the whole purpose of the planner is to track what we are doing. Navigating Our Inboxes If you can do something in 2 minutes or less, and it is not going to take a lot of energy, then do it as soon as possible. Once you have done that, trash it or archive it. Another thing you can do with your inbox is delegating it to someone else. For instance, Gordon forwards things to his administrative assistant all the time – she handles all of his appointment requests. Whereas, projects are things that are going to take more time, put them in your calendar. A lot of times, we do not schedule tasks that take some time to do. With this podcast, Gordon delegates Friday morning to send it to his virtual assistant. Another thing that comes into our inbox are things that may be a reference for later. Gordon stores those using . Overall, the getting things done inbox philosophy includes these five steps: 1. If it can be done in 2 minutes or less, do it immediately. 2. Trash it or delete it. 3. Delegate things by handing it off to somebody else. 4. Assign it to a project by using your calendar. 5. References are things you want to save for later. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Rob Reinhardt | Creating Income From Products In Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 095
09/02/2019
Rob Reinhardt | Creating Income From Products In Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 095
In this episode, Rob Reinhardt and Gordon discuss some tips on creating products to diversify income for your private practice. Rob explains how his first product cards, came to be. is a deck of cards that supports over three dozen games for people of all ages. Then, Rob explains how he came up with the second deck and the activity board. Later, Rob gives tips on things you need think about before starting your product line and the two wrap up by talking about private practice websites and the occasional need to outsource. Meet Rob Reinhardt Rob Reinhardt, LPCS, M.Ed., NCC has his own successful counseling practice and is CEO of . Known for his expertise in reviewing and recommending EHRs for therapists, Rob previously worked in Information Technology for over ten years and has lived around technology his entire life. Describe Cards The words that Rob is regularly trying to get from is clients are adjectives. Emotions are adjectives. Rob started to tinker with cards that had adjectives on them; it’s easier to pull out words when they are on the cards. Rob asks his patients to pick out five cards that describe themselves and five cards that represent somebody else. Over the years, he has refined and developed into a deck of cards with over three dozen activities. Plus, he has launched a second deck and an activity board. Rob doesn’t want the only market products to counselors and therapist, loads of other people buy the products too. For instance, teachers, families, and coaches are all fans of the products. However, will people outside of counseling and therapy be buying the activity board? Activity Boards When Rob is at conferences promoting his describe cards, he wanted something interactive for the people attending. He made selfie boards, laminated adjectives, and had people come into the booth and take a selfie with the adjectives. It helped people be social and understand how the describe cards worked. People started asking him how much it costs to buy the boards; he didn’t see this coming. He probably would not have thought of this if people hadn’t asked him for it first. Diversify Your Income Take time and prioritize, make sure the idea is viable before starting down the path. We only have so many hours in the day, figure out which ideas you are going to focus on to be successful. If Rob followed every idea, none of them would have been successful executions. Here are some helpful tips Rob follows when creating a product: 1. Conceive – Come up with the idea, and what does it look like? 2. Assess – Talk to other people and ask how they see it. What are the needs associated with this product? 3. Evaluate – Can you do this? If you do research and you find out it’s $30 to produce, how much are people going to pay for the product? 4. Logistics – Now you need to create the product or service and maintain it. Product Pricing Pricing will depend on what you are producing, what your market looks like, and what your goals are. A lot of people will create an eBook and give it away for free because they can use the eBook to draw in people, so they end up on your website. How many people will you end up gaining from it and does it pay for itself? If you are looking for a self-sustaining product and revenue-generating, then you have to look at it what it costs for you to produce and how much people will buy it for. Also, you need to consider if it will be worth your time and effort in the long run. If it only generates $20,000 a year, it may take up too much of your time to be worth it. Think of the long-term, is it a one and done thing, or will it continue to evolve? Websites Even though Rob’s website is not the product, he wants to appear to be a tech expert, so Rob knew he needed an excellent website. Plus, he needed a mobile-friendly and clean site. Pieces of it were outsourced. For instance, he is not a graphic designer, so he had the artwork done for him. The website itself was crafted by Rob using WordPress. Sit down and crunch the numbers, will it be cost-effective to hand off your website to someone else? Gordon changed servers recently, so he hired someone to do it for him. It was well worth the money that he spent. WordPress has so many moving parts, not knowing certain aspects will indicate you may need to outsource. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Rob’s Resources Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Litsa Williams | Expanding Your Niche To Provide Resources Beyond Therapy | TPOT Podcast 094
08/26/2019
Litsa Williams | Expanding Your Niche To Provide Resources Beyond Therapy | TPOT Podcast 094
In this episode, Litsa Williams and Gordon discuss helping people with an issue that affects all of us at one point or another in our life, grief. Litsa and her partner, Eleanor Haley, have created an endless supply of resources for people who are in the grieving process. Plus, they have resources for professionals who help others that require grief support. Later, they discuss creative coping and the idea that re-grieving is entirely normal. Meet Litsa Williams I have taken a winding road, from England and a Master’s in Philosophy, to Baltimore and a Master’s in Social Work, to working with homeless adults, troubled kids, and grieving families. It is those individuals who have taught more than I could ever have hoped to learn in my 20 years of schooling. Though I never imagined myself here I am confident it is where I am supposed to be. I live in Charm City, with my husband and my rescue pit bull. And I believe that 5 minute late is absolutely on time. Grief Support Grief is a natural part of life. It’s an adjustment people are going to have to cope with at some point. About 85% of people can cope with grief without getting formal grief counseling as long as they receive normalization, validation, and social support. Unfortunately, when we look at this space where people do not need extra support, where does it come naturally? Litsa and Eleanor asked if there was something that they could create in the online space that would offer so many new ways to share information and build community. Creative Coping Both Litsa and her partner, Eleanor Haley, used photography as a real tool for self-expression and coping with their grief. They started talking about this and wanted to find other people who would be interested in it. As soon as they started talking about it, people were immediately online and wanted to know more about how to connect photography with grief. They ended up creating webinars, online courses, blog posts, and podcast episodes. People are excited about getting this information in a convenient format. Print Materials Litsa and Eleanor also create print materials for funeral directors, hospitals, grief centers, and hospices. They were often given brochures and booklets to hand out to patients during grieving times. The leaflets were outdated because they have not been updated for 30 years. Litsa loves seeing how her new materials are used as the first step to the introduction of grief for so many people. What’s Your Grief Blog At this point, Litsa and Eleanor have nearly 600 articles. They try and cast an extensive net and still publish every week. There has long been a disconnect between academia and the regular people out there for grieving materials. Sometimes the resources for people struggling are underestimated; their blog translates their knowledge into understandable terms for everyone. Plus, they cover topics like talking to kids about suicide, miscarriage loss, and creative expression. Also, they offer hands-on ideas for professionals to help their grieving groups. Re-grief We re-grieve experiences, and that is a normal part of life. For kids, this is especially important because they re-grieve at every developmental stage. When kids get older, they revisit those losses through new lenses they now have. We as adults do that as well. When we hit life milestones, we suddenly re-grieve losses even if it happened thirty years ago. It doesn’t mean we did not grieve right; it just means it is part of our journey. When we see things in the media, we will feel empathy for other humans, and our losses will wrap into those thoughts as well. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Litsa’s Resources Email: whatsyourgrief@gmail.com Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Holly Chantal | Packaging Your Practice To Attract Your Ideal Client | TPOT Podcast 093
08/19/2019
Holly Chantal | Packaging Your Practice To Attract Your Ideal Client | TPOT Podcast 093
In this episode of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks with Holly Chantal about how she helps therapist, counselors and other service providers package and present what they have to offer in a way that attracts your ideal clients. Holly and Gordon discuss what should go on your “about page” and how it should make people connect with you. Then, Holly explains why narrowing down your client base will help you get more clients. Plus, she describes how a therapist can start their online messaging and the benefits of packaging. Meet Holly Chantal For the last decade, Holly Chantal has been helping visionary service professionals bring their brand, business model, and marketing systems into alignment with their next stage of growth. If you’re looking for someone that can quickly grasp your vision and what you do in all of its complexity then help you decide the best path forward then Holly is the woman to call. Holly’s clients call her an integrator because she helps them take their big-picture vision or idea and reverse engineer how to bring it to life in a way that feels right for them. About Pages What Holly likes to do on about pages is sharing core philosophies. If you have particular quirks or niches share them here. Maybe you have a unique scheduling tool, or there is something unusual that you do – put that on the about page. People will decide if they like your approach instead of the more functional reasons they would become your client. It is more about connecting with people and being able to represent who you are as a therapist. If people connect with you, you are probably going to enjoy working with those clients more than people who may not be a good fit for you. Client Attraction For therapists, especially, it is challenging to limit your client base because you want to serve everyone. Holly helps her therapists work through mindset things and how they attract clients. Think about which clients you want to attract. Some people love working with people who have identity disorders. While others like working with people who have anxiety or depression. When you are looking for help, you want someone who is jazzed about the problem they have, not someone who is a generalist. What are your passions, callings, and the magic that you have working with clients? Once you uncover this, you can start to attract more clients to your practice through messaging. Messaging When coming up with your messaging, it is important to compare yourself to your competition. Once you know how you differ, you can talk about yourself and your beliefs. This will give you three to five topics to discuss in Facebook live, on a blog, or in a newsletter to clients. Share little tidbits about your modalities and why they work. Therapists do not want to come across as “salesy,” but you can create a message that does that for you. Packaging The typical norm is open-ended engagement on a session to session basis. Many people are coming to you that have had bad experiences in the past with therapy, so there’s a stigma they have. When you can create packages, you are giving them a roadmap for what the experience will be like, and they can see how their progress is measured. It will provide them with something more tangible to hold on to, and it will be easier to sell long-term engagements. You might be able to create higher-end packages and start getting out of the time for money model. Specializing is helpful if you have decided what kind of work you want to do, and you know the modalities you are bringing into your practice then you can lay this out in a big-picture way for your clients. You can give an estimate of how long the therapy will take, topics covered, homework to work on, and other things that will come in the package. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Holly’s Resources Email: Other Resources (coupon code: podcast93) Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. , and . Follow us on
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David Sturgess | Transitioning From A Hospital Setting To Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 092
08/12/2019
David Sturgess | Transitioning From A Hospital Setting To Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 092
In this episode, Gordon talks with David Sturgess, LPC about making the transition from working in a hospital setting to full-time private practice. David was able to make that transition over time by starting part-time with his private practice working just a few evenings a week. David shares how he was able to decide when to go full-time with his practice. Also, Gordon and David discuss understanding the financial leap into private practice. Start part-time before completely committing to quitting your day job. Then, they talk about why outsourcing your website may save you money in the long run. Meet David Sturgess David Sturgess is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Marietta, Georgia. He owns Foundry Counseling, LLC just off the Marietta Square. He is a National Board Certified Counselor (NCC) and holds the Certified Professional Counselor Supervisor (CPCS) credentials in Georgia. For the last decade, he has been a clinician in Georgia’s short- to long-term Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facilities (PRTFs). During the last two years of working in the hospital settings, he operated his private practice part-time. In the Spring of 2019, he left the treatment facility environment to do private practice full-time. His experience and focus have been with adolescents and their families learning how to cope and heal from trauma, self-harm, and life-threatening behaviors, as well as psychosis. He is intensively trained in TF-CBT, Trauma-Informed Care and Dialectical Behavior Therapy. He facilitates training in these areas for different agencies and churches in Georgia, to empower people to identify when someone close to them needs a more personal level of care and connect with mental health professionals. In private practice, he works with individuals and families to build peace and confidence in their lives as they cope with the daily challenges of their needs, as well as the caregivers supporting the client. Aside from adolescents and families, he works with 20-30-year-olds in learning how to manage the stressors of leaving college and creating their new lifestyles; as well as helping men learn strategies to manage the unique needs they carry and often do not find a confidential place to work. Understanding the Financial Leap David and Gordon spent a few mastermind sessions talking about this topic. Handle your personal finances as well as setting up business finances. Minimize the debt risk to your home, not in terms of your mortgage, but all of the monthly payments that you need to make. The transition will take your income from a guaranteed paycheck to a variable income, where one month can be significant and the next month not so much – you will still have those payments you need to make. Get rid of as much debt as possible on the personal side. There are a lot of great therapists out there, but they don’t know how to run a business, so their private practices have failed. While on the other hand, there are a lot of great business owners, but they are not therapists. Starting Private Practice Part-Time To limit financial liability, David suggests starting a private practice part-time so you can begin building a financial buffer while still having a guaranteed paycheck. Make sure you are still in good standing with your employer. David was not prepared to be full-time in private practice financially; he did it on the side to pay down student loan debt. He recognized that his employer would not give him the raise to help him do that. As David’s first night filled up, he moved into doing his private practice two nights a week. It is one of those things you have to weigh in the beginning stages of private practice. If you are working a full-time job, and you depend on that income, don’t quit your day job too quickly. Be prepared financially to make the transition. Outsourcing Websites David’s website broke the other day; it’s a thorn in his side. When people start a business, they often cannot afford to pay someone to run their website, so they decide to bootstrap it. There are pros and cons to this method. You will find yourself in a situation where you cannot financially afford it. The amount of time that David has wasted trying to do it himself and it not working, probably would have been better off paying someone to run it for him. When you outsource things that are sucking your time, that’s the time you can turn into seeing a client and gaining revenue. Skills Groups David brought on another therapist to his practice; they worked together at his old employer. They have a similar skill set and experience in a hospital setting, so it was a good fit. Having the opportunity to do the skills groups are a great way to increase revenue. Multiple people in the same room are paying an individual price to participate in the group. David is not losing the hour just because there are two therapists in the same place. By the time they split the revenue, they are making the same they would in an hour. Plus, they get to serve more people at the same time. The Benefits of A Mastermind Group Gordon finds people are hungry for is a way to have a community that is a little more than social media. The mastermind group that he runs is limited to 6 or 8 people. It is a way for people to get together to talk about their practices and struggles. David was recently part of the mastermind group; Gordon’s next group will be starting in September. To sign up, click . Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! David’s Resources www.foundrycounseling.com Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Whitney Owens | Contractors vs. Employees in Group Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 091
08/05/2019
Whitney Owens | Contractors vs. Employees in Group Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 091
In this episode, Gordon talks again with Whitney Owens, LPC and they discuss the difference between hiring independent contractors versus employees. Overall, hiring an independent contractor is less paperwork, but you will also have less control over their supervision. Then, Whitney explains how she uses promotion groups to bring clients to her practice and how she plans to help private practice owners incorporate faith into their businesses. Plus, the two talk about their upcoming trip to Killin’It Camp! Meet Whitney Owens I enjoy working with both adults and adolescents on an individual basis. I have experience working with those suffering from depression, anxiety, self-harming behaviors, identity formation, relational issues, and other mood disorders. I use a variety of therapeutic models such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Interpersonal Therapy. I have been seeing clients since 2009 in a variety of settings. While earning my Master in Professional Counseling from Richmont Graduate University, I saw young adults at a residential treatment facility. In 2010 I moved to Colorado where I spent four years working at an inpatient and day treatment facility. Also while in Colorado, I joined a group practice and saw teenagers and adults. In 2014 I moved back to Savannah and started . I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Georgia and a member of the American Counseling Association and the Licensed Professional Counseling Association of Georgia. In addition to counseling, I also offer a number of other services including training and speaking engagements. I have been invited to local organizations such as churches and schools to educate on leadership, adolescent issues, parenting, family concerns, and mental health. As well, I have spoken at retreats focused on helping women heal and find themselves. I have also spoken at youth meetings to adolescents. Please let me know about your next event and how I can help. Contractors vs. Employees Working with an independent contractor, you cannot tell the therapist what they can and cannot say. Whitney wanted to provide more supervision to her counselors. The same day her last contractor put in her two weeks was the first day she had an interview for a W-2 employee. Having a contractor is less paperwork, but you will not have as much control. There is way more teamwork with her employees vs. when she had contractors. Plus, morale is a lot better because everyone feels part of the business; they have team meetings, discuss the work they do together and participate in more events. At Christmas, they went out together, and Whitney can pay for continuing education. Run your numbers to understand which one will be more profitable depending on your structure. Promotion Groups One of the ways Whitney has been able to market her practice is through community promotion groups. Whitney has several connections within a group called you pay every six months, and you get to put up something once a week. They add it to their electronic newsletter, and you get to showcase your banner. Whitney says to try new things and see what sticks. Also, make sure to know your numbers when trying out new promotions. For instance, Whitney knows she needs to book three sessions to make up the cost for Southern Mamas. Faith in Private Practice Whitney had a big idea to help consult other practice owners on how they want to make faith a part of what they do. She also helps with the therapist’s verbiage on their website to attract the right type of clients. Some people want to make faith part of everything they do in their practice, including their name and branding. Whereas others do not want it incorporated with their advertising or branding, but their practice is faith-informed. Gordon tells his clients that he is a clergy person, but he does not have a religious agenda with his counseling. If you are thinking about a faith-based practice, slow down, and think about what kind of practice you want to have and what type of clients you are looking to attract. The most exciting part should be creating your branding and clients, slow down, and consider what you are building. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Whitney’s Resources Email: Whitney@watersedgecounseling.com Call: 912-319-5553 Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Stacey Lanier | Starting A Second Business Within Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 090
07/29/2019
Stacey Lanier | Starting A Second Business Within Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 090
In this episode, Gordon and Stacey Lanier, LPC-MHSP discuss their time working together and Stacey’s new business ventures. Stacey describes her transition to private practice and also her tipping point. Then, we learn all about Stacey’s latest business venture – , a wellness co-working space for people to have a community of other professionals. Plus, Stacey reveals some of her most significant barriers when it comes to starting this next phase of her professional career. Meet Stacey Lanier Stacey is a Licensed Professional Counselor, therapreneur, in Nashville where she has been in private practice for twelve years. She is a trauma specialist, a therapist to therapists who also provides supervision to counselors seeking licensure. With her business partner, Dr. Ila Foster, Stacey recently co-founded The Atelier, a co-working wellness space. Stacey has two boys; a college sophomore and a rising high school senior. The Transition to Private Practice Stacey would advise people to have a plan. Give much forethought and find a mentor, a support person, and a community of people who will set you up for success. Do not just jump in with no safety net. When things get complicated, you should know that you are moving in the right direction. Don’t act impulsively; be intentional about what you are doing. Stacey’s Tipping Point Stacey already had a network of colleagues – she reached out to them to let them know what she was doing and asked them directly for referrals. Also, she got involved in the community and became part of some professional associations. Stacey was anxious about her practice and getting enough clients. So, her friend told her a metaphor that has stuck with Stacey to this day: when you’re growing something you have to consider that it sleeps, it creeps, and then it leaps. Stacey’s tipping point was when she could not answer the phone because she was seeing clients. Not being able to answer the phones was the “aha” moment that her practice was working. She started to reach out for help to get her website built and found a virtual assistant. The Atelier The Atelier is everything Stacey needed when she first started her practice. She did not get a lot of guidance or direction early on. Twelve years ago, there were no podcasts or private practice coaches. She created this wellness co-working space for people to have a community of other professionals who understand what it is like to build a practice from the ground up. Also, clinicians will have a robust community to receive referrals and ask questions. Private practice can be isolating; this community makes people feel like they are not by themselves when becoming successful practitioners. Plus, they can utilize the space to grow their businesses and see clients! Barriers for The Atelier It is taking a tremendous effort to get the word out so they can reach their target market. Stacey hired a marketing firm to help them to do just that. Another barrier is trying to help other practitioners understand that this is possible for them. Yes, it is a scary step and a leap of faith. However, you can still do it and experience success with help from others that will make you feel comfortable. Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Stacey’s Resources Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Joe Sanok | How To "Kill-it" In Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 089
07/22/2019
Joe Sanok | How To "Kill-it" In Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 089
In this episode, Gordon talks again with Joe Sanok about the importance of making connections and developing relationships in building your private practice. They also talk all about which is an upcoming conference that runs from October 20-23, 2019 in Estes Park, CO. Gordon and Joe discuss how attending the conferences are an investment in personal development as well as the future success of your private practice. Joe tells us all about why we should connect more with people in-person and connect less over social media. Meet Joe Sanok In 2012 I launched Practice of the Practice to blog about what I was learning about business, marketing, and private practice. Since then, my income has gone up over 2,000%. In the beginning, I was making around $1000 per month. In 2015, I grossed over $200k! In fact, every month and how I made it. It’s important to me, because we don’t usually talk about money and how to make it in an ethical way. I want to increase your influence and your income! Killin’It Camp This conference is for people starting and growing a practice, they are just getting some traction, and they are sick of boring conferences. Typical conferences have a couple of morsels of information after spending thousands of dollars. While on the other hand, Joe is into putting on unique meetings that people leave with tons of stuff done and have a feeling of great accomplishment. There is enough information out there that you can figure this out on your own. However, you will need to spend countless hours on Google, YouTube, and podcasts. Why not just be around people who have done it and rocked it out before? There is something about being in-person with people and making quick, intimate connections while being vulnerable to others. Connecting with Like-Minded People The importance of making connections with people who are successful and doing things that they know work is essential for a successful private practice. Being in a cohort of people will allow each other to help the group rise up. We want to surround ourselves with other people who are growing in the same direction. The authentic support will allow each other to stay grounded and not let your head get too big. Killin’It Camp Schedule The first night is to find your people that you want to go deeper with. Joe wants people to feel connected with others right away. Monday and Tuesday will be more extensive sessions and breakout sessions. recently came on as a major sponsor that will allow them to put on some surprises for their guests. Joe does not have the corner of knowledge and innovation. Collectively, they will be able to put on something unique. How to “Kill It” in Private Practice Find a community of people you can go more in-depth with. It is essential to surround yourself with the right people. People that kill it have found ways to get information that they can act on quickly. Hire a coach or sign up for a program to find a shortcut for the process. Consuming information makes changes. The knowledge is only as helpful as the action you take. Schedule time to take action and evaluate how you are using your time. Having a virtual assistant and utilizing TherapyNotes are ways to scale your practice. YMCA of the Rockies Joe started out by doing low ropes and high ropes courses and initially thought he would be doing adventure-based therapy. His first year out of grad school, he applied to be the regional chair. For three years, he was the regional chair of the Midwest, and he would go to the YMCA of the Rockies, surrounded by the Rocky Mountains National Park. The YMCA has kept their prices really reasonable. The hotel rooms do not include TVs, no distractions! There are all sorts of free activities you can sign up for like guided hikes. It is secluded enough that you won’t have an urge to get on your phone and check Facebook. Sign up for the conference now before prices go up! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Joe’s Resources Other Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. , and . Follow us on
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Spreading The Word About Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 088
07/15/2019
Spreading The Word About Your Private Practice | TPOT Podcast 088
In this episode, Gordon talks about what is needed to bring clients to your practice and the various “touch-points” and tipping points that make that possible. In many ways, this episode is about marketing but goes in a little deeper to discuss some of the concepts Gordon has learned from Maven, Connector, and Persuader According to there are three types of people: connectors, mavens, and persuaders. Connectors are people who can make connections with others. We are only separated from every other person on the earth by six degrees. Another type of person is a maven, someone who collects information and knows a lot about stuff. Lastly, a persuader is a person who has the gift of persuading others into things. Those of us who are therapists in many ways fit in the persuasion character. We are persuading our clients to find changes in themselves. Most of us have these three characteristics intrinsically by virtue because of the type of profession we are in. We have the ability to engage with people, we have the knowledge, and the persuasion. When we think about marketing our private practice, we should utilize these skills and make connections with the right people. Get More Clients in Your Practice We need clients to be sitting in front of us, so we can charge our fees and be paid for what we do. When Gordon first started in private practice, it seemed like the number of clients he was getting was hit or miss. He was doing all of this stuff, but he wasn’t getting any clients. Keep doing what you are doing, it takes time! At some point you will reach a sticking point, something will resonate with someone. People need to know that you are providing services. It is essential to get out and do things – like making sure your website has SEO and blogging to get content out there. How Clients Find Therapy 1. There are people out there that recognize they need help, so they will search you out directly. It usually is because they have a particular problem they are dealing with. When these people search for you online, you need to have the right search terms embedded in your website. For example, if someone is depressed, they might search “I’m feeling depressed, how do I find help?” So you will want the word depressed to be linked to you in one way or another. 2. There are people out there that need help but do not realize they need the support yet. You can market to this. People may be experiencing anxiety or depression, but they don’t have the label for it. Clients will describe their life to Gordon. For example, “I don’t sleep well. I can’t turn my brain off.” Typically, Gordon will give it a label and the light bulb will go off in their head. Try and use this type of language in your social media so they can make the connection. 3. People who refer to you. In particular, relationships with doctors and other professionals who see people that are struggling but may not realize they need help. The professionals will give the referral for them to see you. 4. They are not experiencing any problems, but because they know about you, they remember who you are. They may not need help themselves, but they can recall you when something does come up. Keep Marketing There is no one foolproof way of getting clients through the door. You have to get your name out there and get yourself known. When you reach a certain critical mass in your practice, you will reach a tipping point of your practice. Keep doing all those things that you know are good marketing practices. There is no magic bullet with a particular method. You can do several different things. Be persistent and patient with the process. Gordon is consistently putting stuff out on the internet and persistently making a connection in the community. Many of Gordon’s clients refer his practice to a friend. Also, because he is active in the community, he gets many referrals from doctors and other professionals. If you keep it up, it will pay off! Being transparent… Some of the resources below use affiliate links which simply means we receive a commission if you purchase using the links, at no extra cost to you. Thanks for using the links! Resources Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT Gordon is the person behind He is also President and Founder of . He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer and writer. , and . Follow us on
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