Training: Private Practice Made Simple

In March 2012 I will be offering a five city workshop series based on my book, Private Practice Made Simple (New Harbinger Publications, 2011). Here's the schedule:

• March 3 - Calgary, Olympic Volunteer Centre
• March 15 - Toronto, Best Western Primrose Hotel
• March 17 - Ottawa, Lord Elgin Hotel
• March 22 - Vancouver, Holiday Inn Vancouver Centre
• March 24 - Edmonton, Lister Conference Centre, University of Alberta

The program is a full day. The flyer, and links for online registration, are available here.

What about the blog?

Over the coming weeks my Friday posts will focus on the mechanics of operating a private practice in psychology or mental health. The Tuesday posts will emphasize issues of (hopefully!) broader appeal to practitioners and the general public alike.

The private practice posts will cover a variety of practical issues. The book contains references to online forms, and these are available free from www.changeways.com. Many of the posts will include links to specific forms that readers can use to help design or fine-tune their practices.

What's the focus of the workshop?

Here's the text from the flyer:

Therapists routinely say it. “I was never trained how to run a business.” We were taught assessment strategy, how to conduct therapy, and when to refer - but not how to perform many of the central activities involved in running a private practice. So we stumble through, gradually picking up ideas and skills as we go along, and about the time we’re planning our retirement we begin to think we understand.

But running a practice doesn’t have to be difficult. Many of the skills can be communicated and learned relatively easily. This program covers a wide variety of strategies to make your practice more successful, more effective, and more fun.

Here are some of the topics covered ...

Getting started

• Selecting a location and practice name
• Defining your scope of practice
• Furnishing and organizing your space

Creating a website

• The importance of a web presence
• How to organize the site
• Working with a developer
• Monitoring site visitors and usage

Getting referrals

• Using directory services
• Identifying your best sources
• How NOT to waste time and effort
• The practice announcement
• Corresponding with sources

Practice finances

• Setting fees and calculating income
• Facing financial realities
• Working with an accountant
• Accounts, salaries, and expenses
• Should you incorporate?

Clinic staff

• When do you need an assistant?
• The clinic manual
• Setting up payroll
• Staff retention issues
• Bringing colleagues into the practice

Professional presentation

• Office layout 
• Why you should sit in your client’s chair
• Handling payments and bookings

Information management

• Client number systems: Why bother?
• Demographic information forms
• File organization
• Data security

Fifteen ways to avoid burnout, including:

• The annual redefining process
• Imposing your own boundaries
• Why not to work to capacity
• Identifying an avocation
• Defending the work/home boundary
• The price of not taking vacations

I won't cover all of these topics in the blog. But let's see where it goes.