If you are interested in conducting market research on

"School Buses" by John Williams, Ph.D.

education in the United States, don’t miss the website for the National Center for Education Statistics.  The NCES  collects and analyzes data related to education.

Congress and other federal agencies as well as state departments of education, local officials, educational organizations, news media, business organizations and the general public rely on NCES statistics for an accurate representation of progress and needs and you should, too.

Do you have other resources / ways of conducting market research on schools in your area?

Related Posts

K-12 Student Support to Feed Your Practice

Public’s Perception of School Problems Can Open Doors for You

Another Strategy for Marketing to the Educational Community:  Collaborating with Your Competitors

Tags: Market Research, School

"Perception" by Wonderlane

I was researching online when I ran across this video, Beyond the Shadows of Stigma.  It is a compelling  8-minute video that all health care practitioners should see.

But, I was even more taken by the power of the technique, called Photovoice, that was used to create the message.  It was new to me.  By putting photojournalism into the hands of marginalized group, it appears change can happen — education, empowerment, hope and possibilities!

I’m sharing this with you because as my mind is whirling with the possibilities of how to integrate this into my professional and community work, I thought you, too, might see possibilities!

How might you integrate Photovoice into your work to help your private practice grow?

Tags: Education, Empowerment, Photojournalism, Photovoice, Video

If you think that where you locate your office doesn’t matter, you are wrong.  Research has

"Beyond the Wall" by Giuseppe Bognanni

shown that the location of your office can make or break your private practice.

The reason location matters is that clients are put off by the perception of geographic barriers.  Common geographic barriers include:

• Major highways and thoroughfares;
• Major landmarks such as a mall, airport, park, or university;
• County and state lines;
• Significant bodies or streams of water;
• Different neighborhood or different town;
• Socio-economic differences;
• Lack of visibility;
• Difficult parking – this includes the need to pay for parking;
• General difficulty in getting to your office – this could be heavy traffic, road construction, or just a complicated route.

Before you accept the really “great” rental fee for your potential office, don’t forget to take these geographical barriers into the savings.  If you are losing too many clients, you may want to reconsider!

What other geographic barriers can you think of that might cause a potential client to see a different therapist?

Tags: Geographic Barrier, Location, Office, Visibility

On Friday, Private Practice from the Inside Out

"Well Dressed Caterpillar" by HikingArtist.com / Frits Ahlefeldt-Laurvig

kicked off its fifth Annual Series!  This year, we have participants representing body workers, attorneys, coaches, psychotherapists, and even professional nannies joining us!

Over the next nine months, participants will cover a wide range of topics  on marketing and practice development . . . all geared to help them get and keep high quality clients.

If you were unable to join us this year, but would like to stay informed about opportunities for 2010, drop me a line to let me know that you are interested and I’ll put you on my tickler list!

Tags: Private Practice from the Inside Out Annual Series

Not everything that’s therapeutic is therapy.

"Magic" by Jess Lo

And, as a matter of fact, not everything that’s called “therapy” is actually therapy!

Here’s an interesting website that talks about The Healing of Magic.  If you are looking for new tools to augment your work, perhaps you can find some creative ones here.

Tags: Continuous Learning, Disabilities

Back in June, I posted

"Old Fashioned Pharmacy . . ." by Curious Expeditions

Resources for Affordable Medications and Health Insurance.

Here are even more resources for affordable and even free medications for your client.

Access 2 Wellness – Invega, Risperdal

AstraPagesZeneca – Seroquel

GSK for You – Lamictal, Wellbutrin XL

Bristol-Meyers Squibb LifeLines of Care – Abilify

Forest Pharmaceuticals Patient Assistance – Lexapro

Lilly Cares - Cymbalta, Strattera, Zyprexa

Pfizer – Geodon and Zoloft

Wyeth – Effexor XR, Pristiq

Help us build our bank of resources right here by sharing any that have been left off the list!

Tags: Medication

What is your off-the-clock strategy for managing your private practice?

• Do you use an answering service?

• Do you remain on call 24/7?

• Do you refuse to speak to clients when you are out of the office?

• Do you trade off with other professionals?

I’m eager to hear what you do to cover your practice and how it works for you.

Tags: Coverage, On Call

You’ve heard how big a fan I am of online discussion lists for networking.  However, ever so often I am reminded of the more frustrating side of a list . . . .

Here’s what not to do online. This week on one of the mental health professionals’ lists (I subscribe to many), two members started lecturing each other about X all under the auspices on “sharing,” “clarifying,” and “informing.”  They included a little name calling and a lot of posturing about who was wiser and who was more experienced and who was more knowledgeable.  (And, they used their actual names!)  It might as well have been an exchange similar to this one that Peter Shankman posted here.

To embarass or not to embarass . . . . I considered (briefly) asking the authors for permission to share screen shots of their words with you here but decided not to.  After all, I am embarrassed for both of them.  I hope their colleagues, employers, and referral sources aren’t reading that thread!

Good intentions. Of course, others joined in to take sides, to broaden perspectives, or in an attempt to find common ground.  Some actually unsubscribed from the list citing their reasons (both on / off list) as “too much junk email.”  And, I suspect that many, like me, have just sat back watching the lack of civility and lack of professional communication escalate and then die back down on its own. WHEW!

A few things to consider . . . . If you are new to social media or simply need a few reminders about how to proceed when someone presents ideas that are not in sync with your own, here’s a few to get you started:

"Wall of Peace - Moscow" by Jeff Bauche

• You are not anonymous – especially if you have signed your name!
• Don’t take it personally.  We all have goofy or mistaken ideas on occasion.
• Online communication is limited.  Humor and sarcasm don’t translate well.  Words get twisted or completely omitted.  Tone and intensity are often missing or misunderstood.  And, unfortunately, we tend to not proofread every post before we hit send.
• Take a breath and resist the urge to dash off a knee-jerk, emotional response.  Just B-R-E-A-T-H-E.
• If you do decide to reply, consider the options available.  Is there really a need to respond to the entire discussion list?  Do you have a private email address, phone number, etc.?
• The only time you MUST reply to the entire group is if you’ve messed up (and need to clean up) in public.
• If you are going to write back, find something to agree with.  Can’t find anything?  Then, you aren’t in the frame of mind to professionally respond yet.  (Think about it.  Clients come in every day with values, beliefs, and behaviors that you don’t agree with.  And, yet, you find a way to join with them.  This is the very same skill.)
• After you compose your message and before you hit “Send,” take time to re-read it.  Is there a better way to get your message across.  What’s your goal in sending it?
• Be generous in your response.  Give your reader the benefit of the doubt. . . .  Perhaps they were in a bad mood.  Or maybe they aren’t as experienced as you are . . . . We all have something left to learn.
• Be kind.  If you feel that someone is lacking some information and doesn’t know it, is there a way to pass the info along without making someone feel like an idiot or look like a fool?
• Consider your real motives in responding.  What triggered your reaction?  And, again, what was your goal in sending it?

OK, so maybe you aren’t like me and out to change the world.  Maybe hurt feelings and civility aren’t really of concern to you at all.  What I know is that this is still important to you and here’s the reason why . . . .  Your employer, your referral sources, your colleagues and even your clients have access to your words once you put them out into cyberspace.

As you are building your private practice, remember that any time you are in public – either physically or via technology – you need to have your professional hat on and that includes using professional communication.  Your professional image is on the line.

What else needs to be considered when you run into conflict online?

Tags: Conflict, Discussion List, Online Etiquette, Reputation, Social Media, Trigger

"The Tools of Artist, Leo D’Lázaro in Havana, Cuba" by Ontario Wanderer / Dean Gugler

For those of you who are blogging to build your businesses, check out Gina Trapani’s great list of 10 Tools to Make Your Blog Smarter, Faster, Better.  She posted it here at Fast Company.

And, by all means, introduce yourself and leave us a link to your blog!

Tags: Social Media

Have you given any thought to your cancellation policy?  If not, you should. Cancellation policies provide clarity for your clients and reinforce professional courtesy and boundaries for you.

It is common for mental health professionals to require a 24-48 hour notice for clients to cancel a scheduled appointment.  Under such a policy, the client who fails to give appropriate notice for canceling an appointment typically pays the therapist’s usual and customary fee.  Therapists who implement this type of policy often stipulate exceptions for emergencies and illness.

"Cancelled" by Paul G.

My cancellation policy reads as follows:  “  A cancelled appointment delays our work.  When you must cancel, please give me at least 24 hours notice.  I am rarely able to fill a cancelled session unless I know at least 24 hours in advance.  In you are unable to provide at least 24 hours notice when you cancel, you will be charged the full fee for your session unless I am able to fill it with another client.  (You should note that insurance companies do not typically reimburse for missed appointments.)  The only time I will waive this fee is in the event of serious or contagious illness or emergency.”

Should you decide to implement a cancellation policy in your practice, make sure that you include it in your written statement of disclosure.

Tags: Appointments, Disclosure Statement, Fee, Policy

I frequently work with clients post-divorce who

"Up, Up and Away! 236 / 365" by mollyjolly / Maria Johnson

continue to run into difficulties with their ex-spouses.  One of my current clients has introduced me to an email tracking system called DidTheyReadIt.  This system has helped her verify to the court that she has made appropriate efforts to communicate with her ex-spouse concerning custody issues.

According to the website,

When you use DidTheyReadIt, e-mails that you send are automatically and invisibly tracked. The instant the recipient opens your message, DidTheyReadIt automatically notifies you.”

The email receipt that you receive tells you what time your email was opened, how long it remained open, and where geographically it was viewed.  Here is a sample of the receipt they send.

If you or your client has a need to “prove” compliance with timely email communication, this tool may be a useful option.

Tags: Email

This is part of an episodic series, The Therapist’s Networking Guide.
To see the previous post in this series, click here.

If you are new to networking or have yet to find your own comfortable way, then taking time to identify myths, typical blunders, and common networking gaffs may ease your way on down the road.

Myth #1 that I had to get over was the one my mother taught me in kindergarten . . . Don’t talk to strangers. Sound familiar to anyone else out there?  Think about it.  If you struggle with talking to people you don’t know, then you probably learned this lesson, too.

Alfred Adler would have been the first to point out that many of the lessons we needed to learn as children no longer serve us well.  If “Don’t talk to strangers” was once a guiding rule for you, it may be time to re-examine whether this lesson is still worth hanging on to.    As for me, I gave it up a long time ago and have found that my ability to talk to anyone (human or fence post) helps put others at ease and makes my networking much more enjoyable!

"IMG_3638" by pkdon50

Myth #2 might be . . . Act like you know what you’re doing.   You don’t need to act as if you know everything about the new networking group you’ve just shown up to check out.  Neither do you need to fake that you know or remember people you’ve never met before.  What you do need to know about is your professional expertise, a few current events, and basic social graces.

Myth #3 . . . Networking is serious business. Well, yes and no.  You want to seriously benefit from the time, energy, and money that you are putting into it.  But, networking is probably going to be less effective if you make it a somber and dull occassion.  Try to relax!  Plan to have fun!  Maybe even laugh a little!

Myth #4 . . . Good things come to those who wait. Nope.  If you passively / shyly stand in the back of the room and wait for potential referral sources to make their way to you, you are misguided.  People who make things happen don’t have time to hunt you down for an introduction.  Your job, if you want to network effectively, is to identify and approach the key people that can help you grow your business.  Don’t wait for those you want to meet; instead, put them in your sight line as soon as you get to your meeting and take the initiative to meet them.

Myth #5 . . . If I make a mistake, I might not get a referral. That’s called risk aversion and this little blunder can kill your business.  Being afraid to take simple human risks . . . like not knowing what to say or forgetting a name can end up costing you serious relationship assets.

Take a breath, take a risk, and be prepared to admit that on occasion you will forget what you were talking about or someone’s name.  We all do it.  It’s what makes us human.  It’s NOT what costs you business!

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to unpack your networking baggage.  See what gets in the way.  And, let us know if you come up with other networking myths / blunders / gaffs to add to our list!

Tags: Relationship Assets, Risk Aversion

The DEADLINE for registering for the 2009 / 2010 Private Practice from the Inside Out Annual Series is this Friday, October 16, 2009.  Find details here.

Here’s what others have said about working with Tamara on building / revitalizing a private practice.

“Your coaching style was such a pleasant surprise!  I got so much more than I planned on getting – hundreds of ideas and ways to implement them that fit MY style.”

~ Amy G., Breckenridge

“WOW!  I thought I would learn some new tricks for my ten year old practice!  Had no idea that I would double my client load so quickly!  Better watch out what you ask for!”

~ Donna K., Denver

“I love your emphasis on collaboration and relationship-building rather than the same old scarcity model.  You stayed true to your values and mine!”

~ Jeri D., Lakewood

Your wealth of knowledge about our business is amazing!”

~ Marquita P., Castle Rock

“Thank you for helping me narrow my focus and learn to market my services in a way that feels ‘right’ for me.  Up until now, getting clients has always felt like selling.  You’ve made it feel natural, logical and even fun!”

~ Jessica A., Aurora

“I made the entire fee for PPIO! back in less than two weeks!  Best money I’ve ever spent on my practice!  The only other investment in my practice that I consider this important is the telephone!”

~ Paul J., Castle Rock

“Tamara, you blew my expectations out of this world!  Can’t wait to see what you offer next!”

~ Dustin P., Littleton, CO

“Tamara!  You are GREAT!  You made me think about my practice in a whole new way.  I realize now that I have MANY WAYS of growing my practice!”

~ Lorna A., Highlands Ranch

“YOU ARE A GIFT!  Just when I thought I would have to close my practice or starve to death, you showed me multiple possibilities.  It’s been three months since I finished PPIO!  and my practice is bringing me only blessings and joy!”

~ Marla T., Aurora

“This was the best training I’ve ever attended.  PERIOD.”

~ Deb E., Castle Rock

“Tamara is so generous with her information / knowledge / experiences – the good and the bad!  Don’t miss her!”

~ Danielle V., Cherry Creek

“This is what I expected to get in graduate school and didn’t.  No wonder it was such a struggle to start a private practice!”

~ Josh G., Englewood

Tamara’s availability between sessions was AMAZING.  I never expected her to care so much about helping me succeed!”

~ Lynn D., Parker

“I should have signed up for this series LAST YEAR!  Thank you for helping me turn my practice    around!”

~ Jamie H., Denver

Tags: About Tamara

If you still haven’t taken the time to have a business card made for yourself, then you are making a big BIG mistake.

Here’s two things that you really need to know . . . .  Your cheapest form of marketing is a great business card. They can cost you as little as six dollars for 250 at an on line printing service like VistaPrint or they can cost you as much as several hundred dollars for 1000 from a local printer like Maverick Press in Littleton, Colorado.   Your design, choice of paper and quantity ordered factor in to your final costs but any way you figure it, your business card is your least expensive marketing cost and is the most versatile tool you will use.

The second thing you need to know about your business card is that once you hand it over to another professional and leave the premises, it serves as a reminder of who you are and how to reach you. Think about it . . . .  I told you about that old adage “last in, first out.”  That means that if your business card keeps your name in front of other professionals’ eyes last, then your name is the one that is likely to be recalled when they are ready to call with a referral.  Last in, first out.

And, here’s one more thing you need to know about having a business card.  It’s the professional thing to do.  No CEO, no professional, and no office manager is going to refer clients to you until you take yourself seriously enough to get decent business card. Think about it. . . .  Having a business card implies that you are serious about your professional services. . . . It implies that you have some degree of stability i.e. your address, website, and phone number aren’t changing daily. . . .  And, it implies that you have something of value to offer.

Still putting off getting that business card? P-L-E-A-S-E!  What’s keeping you from taking that step?  Let me know and I’ll be happy to nudge you along!

Tags: Business Card, Professional Image

Ken Pope, Ph.D. has posted an excellent article about psychologists’ use of therapy.

"Shrinking Jeremy" by deltaMike / Mike Renlund

You can find the article here.

Tags: Therapist in Therapy