Getting Better at Private Practice

Expert advice for building your private practice The "business" of practice as a mental health professional is a skill that is seldom taught in school and requires thoughtful guidance and professional mentorship from those who have already succeeded. Containing the collective wisdom and secrets of many expert practitioners, this helpful resource provides useful insights for setting up, managing, and marketing your practice, including timely advice on being a successful provider in the digital age—from Internet marketing to building your online presence. Designed for private practices of any size and at any stage of development, this practical guide looks at: Creating your dream niche practice Choosing the right technological tools and resources to simplify and streamline your job Leveraging the Internet to market your practice Developing a practice outside of managed care Transitioning to executive coaching Ethical and legal aspects of private practice Full of action-oriented ideas, tips, and techniques, Getting Better at Private Practice provides both early career and seasoned mental health professionals with the knowledge and tools they need to establish, develop, and position their practice so that it is financially successful and life-enriching over the long term.

Preface xi Acknowledgments xiii About the Editor xv About the Contributors xix SECTION I SETTING UP, MANAGING, AND MARKETING YOUR PRACTICE 1. Differences in Business Structures and Protections in Human Service Private Practice: Which Suits Your Practice Best? 3 Jonathan D. Nye 2. Making Ends Meet: Financial Management in Private Practice 13 David W. Ballard 3. Managed Care Contracting: Strategies for Negotiating and Maintaining Relationships 33 Bridget Morehouse 4. Ethical and Legal Aspects of Private Practice 52 Scott Hammer and Kenneth H. Kessler 5. How Writing a Column for Your Local Newspaper Can Enhance Your Private Practice 69 Linda Sapadin 6. How Self–Publishing Can Enhance Your Private Practice 83 Linda Sapadin and John E. Mayer 7. Working With the Media 95 Pauline Wallin 8. The Power of Community Networking 107 Melhim W. Restum and Joe Bavonese 9. The Benefits of Joining Professional Organizations 150 Lisa R. Grossman 10. From Vision to Mission: Building a Practice That Is Personally Satisfying and Professionally Successful 164 Heather M. Hale SECTION II BUILDING, MARKETING, AND PRACTICING IN THE DIGITAL AGE 11. Web Sites and Internet Marketing 179 Joe Bavonese 12. Building Your Online Presence as an Expert 196 Pauline Wallin 13. Ethics and Social Networking Sites 214 Laura A. Taylor 14. The Google Factor: Ethical Considerations for Therapists Practicing in the Digital Age 230 Ofer Zur 15. Technological Tools for Therapists: List of Helpful Software and Web Sites 239 William E. Benet and Chris E. Stout SECTION III THE DREAM NICHE PRACTICE: SUCCESSFUL STORIES OF SPECIALIZATION 16. Starting and Growing Concierge Psychotherapy and Psychiatric Practices 253 William R. Lynch 17. Developing a Practice Outside of Managed Care 266 Steven Walfish 18. Using Feedback–Informed Treatment (FIT) to Build a Premium–Service, Private–Pay Practice 279 Jason A. Seidel 19. The One–Stop Shop: Collaboration Beyond Psychology 292 Brian K. Sullivan 20. Psychologists in Dispute Resolution: Being Part of a Revolution! 304 Amy L. Robinson 21. Why Wait?: Building a Stellar Practice n Weight Management 317 Brad Saks 22. Becoming an Educational Consultant 335 Heather M. Hale 23. Building a Successful Education Business 348 Jack Krasuski 24. Blending Treatment Innovation and Economic Success for Working With Troubled Emerging Adults: The Yellowbrick Model 364 Jesse Viner, Laura Viner, and Chris E. Stout 25. Transitioning to Executive Coaching 376 Jeffrey E. Auerbach 26. A Psychologist’s Career in Sports Administration 394 John E. Mayer 27. Working in Sport Psychology 412 Kate F. Hays SECTION IV FINAL THOUGHTS 28. “You’re Fired! Hooray!” Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Fall Back in Love With Working in Psychology 429 Michael Aisenberg 29. Why All the Enlightenment, Empowerment, and Edification Embedded in This Book May Mean Nothing to You 441 Linda Sapadin Index 445

CHRIS E. STOUT, PsyD, MBA , is a licensed clinical psychologist; founding director of the Center for Global Initiatives; Clinical Professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine; and Director of Research at the Athletic and Therapy Institute. He has published over thirty books including two bestsellers on practice management. Dr. Stout was invited to Davos by the World Economic Forum. He is a Fellow in three divisions of the American Psychological Association; past-president of the Illinois Psychological Association; and a Distinguished Practitioner in the National Academies of Practice. He has been interviewed broadly by CNBC, CNN, NBC, PBS, NPR, Oprah , Time , the Chicago Tribune , and the New York Times . He has won four Humanitarian Awards for his work on behalf of the not-for-profit organization Center for Global Initiatives.