Deb Legge

Now that we are talking about marketing (see my blog posted June 4) your private practice… I’m sure the question “So where do I start?” comes to mind.

I’ve always wanted to paint a room, but I’ve never painted a room in my life. I think about the painting the ceiling first and think, “what if I get it just right and then mess it up when I do the walls?” I think about painting the walls first and think, “what if I get these just right and then ruin it when I paint the ceiling?” As a result, I’ve painted the mantle. I’ve painted a deck. I’ve admired other people’s beautifully painted rooms. But I’ve still never painted a room in my life.

Yesterday I got an urgent email from a coaching client regarding a situation she encountered many times when working in agencies, but for the first time now in private practice. This question almost immediately triggers my “supervision” mode, so I really had to pull back and grab my coaching hat to respond.

This weekend I’m finishing up my portfolio, which I will submit for tenure later this month. This process required a lot of reflection on my accomplishments and challenges over the past 6 years.

One of the first questions I get from my Private Practice Mentoring students is “How do I know how much to charge? It’s a great question. The answer isn’t as straightforward as some may like, but there are several things to consider when setting your fees (for both private pay and for insurance reimbursement). Some have to do with your market, and others have to do with your business model. Here’s an overview…