New to private practice and needing some guidance? Well we’ve got some for you, along with advice from seasoned clinicians in private practice on the mistakes they wish they could re do when starting their practices.
Okay so let’s dive right into it.
Mistake 1: Not starting out with electronic health records (EHR) from the get-go.
Benefits of having electronic records for your mental health practice includes, but is not limited to, the ability to streamline scheduling, automated reminders for client sessions, clinical documentation, billing software, and revenue management and reporting.
Most recommended platforms for mental health professionals are:
“My life would have been a lot easier back in the day if I could have streamlined everything to be online.”
— KIM
“I would have saved a lot of trees along the way if I used an EHR from the beginning.”
— SARAH
“I thought it was too pricey at first when I only had 2 clients but looking back, the price would have been worth my sanity!”
— ALLISON
“It was a pain in my &*% having to switch over all my clients from paper-based filing to an EHR once I had a full caseload.”
— ROB
Mistake 2: Renting an entire office
Do you work 24/7? No. So why sign a traditional 24/7 lease? Sharing an office space can lead to lower costs, fewer responsibilities, more networking opportunities, smaller commitments, and more support for you and your growing practice. Companies like b.mindful Louisville provide safe, clean, practical and modern offices for mental health professionals in private practice. By entering a community like this you will be provided with a like-minded support network, as well as all the furnishing and amenities to support your growing practice.
“Would have been in a better space financially if I could have just rented a space to practice for 1-2 days a week.”
— ROB
“Wasted a lot of time trying to find someone to sublease my office when I wasn’t there, and that time could have been spent on my clients or with my family.”
— ALLISON
“Wouldn’t have gone right into renting an office on my own honestly.”
— KIM
“I was so stressed at the beginning and my overhead costs were so expensive. It was tough having to juggle rent, utilities, supplies, and marketing all while building up my caseload. Would have been a lot better for me to share an office at first.”
— SARAH
Mistake 3: Not networking
At its most basic form, networking is about building and maintaining relationships with people which may lead to a mutually beneficial exchange at some point in the future. Think about your ideal client and where they go, what they listen to, who they seek guidance from and build your networking strategy around that. These can be other therapists, physicians, other wellness providers, attorneys etc.
“Wish I would have networked with others in the field sooner.”
— ROB
“Wish I would have just got out there and done it. It can be scary at first, but the more you do it the better you’ll become at it.”
— KIM
“Wish I asked the stupid questions and wasn’t afraid to be the newbie.”
— SARAH
“If only I knew how beneficial it was to market with other clinicians in the same niche. People always need someone they trust to refer to when they are full and vice versa!”
— ALLISON
Mistake 4: Ignoring my finances
Not a lot of therapists come from a background in finance, so don’t shy away from seeking advice from professionals in order to keep your finances in order. Last thing you want is to get yourself into is financial struggles at the beginning of your private practice journey.
“Pay myself. I always forgot to do this at the beginning because I was so worried about having enough to cover the expenses. ”
— ALLISON
“Make people pay up front for sessions and not at the end of the sessions because I always forgot to collect the payments!”
— KIM
“Talked to an accountant much sooner.”
— ROB
“Learned how to keep up with billing better. ”
— SARAH
Mistake 5: Not filing for an LLC
In order to protect your personal assets, it is advised to keep your business and personal liability separate. One way to do this is to form a limited liability company. Talk with your advisors to see what will be best for your practice and learn more here about forming an LLC for your business.
“Getting legal isn’t fun, but neither is getting sued. So protect your earnings and your family.”
— SARAH
“Thank goodness I never got into legal trouble, but just start with an LLC from the beginning to ensure highest levels of security for your personal and business assets.”
— KIM
“Just do it, its the smart thing to do. You can do it by yourself or hire a lawyer to do it, whatever you are comfortable with.”
— ALLISON
“It’s not exactly ‘harder’ to form an LLC once your practice is grown, but I just found that I didn’t have the time to do it like I did in the beginning when I was building my practice.”
— ROB
Mistake 6: Not having an online presence
Online marketing should be at the top of our ‘to do’ list. It is one of the most cost-effective ways to reach thousands of people within seconds. Websites and social media platforms are excellent ways to target your ideal clients.
“If you are not comfortable with a website right at first, at least have a Facebook page for your business”
— ALLISON
“I have received so many complements from clients and other professionals on my site and how much more ‘official’ it makes me look. I think that would have helped build my confidence faster when I was first starting out.”
— KIM
“Having an online presence is vital to your success today, if you aren’t able to be found on Google, you might as well be a ghost.”
— ROB
“Just build a website, even just a basic one.”
— SARAH
Mistake 7: Doing it all alone
You don’t have to do it alone. Rely on your community and the resources that private practice consultants have designed for you.
Some of the most recommended private practice consultants are:
“You are not an expert at everything, so rely on those for help to fill in the gaps where you lag the skills for success.”
— ROB
“Don’t rework the wheel, just do your research and use whats already out there. ”
— KIM
“I wish I would have known about the private practice support groups and boot camps out there because all of their free resources are so helpful. ”
— ALLISON
“Would have had a lot fewer tears if I opened up and allowed help in at the beginning. Part of it was understanding that it can still be ‘my business’ and that I can still take credit for the hard work put into it but that I don’t have to struggle alone during the process. ”
— SARAH
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Shannon Gonter is a professional counselor in Louisville, KY who works with young adults and specializes in mens issues. She strives to create a counseling environment that men and young adults can relate to, feel heard in and find new solutions to their negative patterns in. Learn more about her and the services she provides at www.therapybyshannon.com.