Marketing your services to the educational community requires a long term commitment to building relationships.  To make your investment work for you, pay attention to teachers’ needs.

Elementary school teachers in public schools commonly contend with resource gaps i.e. student poverty and lack of parental involvement resulting in students being unprepared to learn.

Elementary school

"Classroom 6" by Martin Deutsch

teachers in private schools report their primary needs focus on student apathy.

By secondary school chemical abuse and student apathy are major concerns for educators.

As a precursor to completing a needs assessment, tailor your initial marketing strategies to meet the needs of teachers based on what you know about their particular work settings.

Related Posts

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

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

Gathering Market Research on the Educational Community

Tags: Needs Assessment, School

I just discovered an inexpensive source for your online professional development in mental health called The Innovations Institute! from Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation.

At a cost of about $5-15 / hour, you can choose from an extensive list of distance learning opportunities taught by world-class presenters.  Or, if you prefer, sign up for the $99 All Access Package that gives you access to 150 of their most popular courses.  All courses have been approved by the largest and most respected professional associations in mental health (as well as many state licensing boards) in the United States.

I’m hoping that you can help me find other sources for low cost or free online professional development and CEU opportunities to enhance your work in mental health.

Add your suggestions right here!

Tags: CEUs, Continuos Learning, Distance Learning

If you are getting ready to start shopping for a clinical supervisor, here are 10 more questions you need to ask before you invite them to work with you.

"Question Mark" by Segozyme

1. What professional associations are you a member of?
   Don’t assume that they are telling you the truth.  Make sure that you verify their membership through your state licensing board.
2. How are you involved in these associations?
   Does she hold an office in the organization?  Remember to verify that your prospective supervisor is as involved as she represents herself to be.
   A supervisor who is actually involved in a professional association (rather than just paying her membership dues), is better able to help develop you as a professional in the field.
3. Why did you choose to join these organizations?
   Was it about the membership fee?  The purpose of the organization?  The benefits of membership?  This can tell you a lot about what is important to your prospective supervisor.
4. Do you expect me to be involved in a professional association?
   If so, then you will want to know which organization and how involved.
5. How will you monitor my client’s welfare?
   Your supervisor may monitor you through a one-way mirror, ask you to audio / video record your sessions for review, obtain self-reports from you, contact your clients, etc.  Most clinical supervisors use a variety of methods to monitor client welfare.
6. How do you insure my compliance with ethical, legal, and professional standards?
   This is a critical task for your supervisor and you want to make sure that she has a solid plan for this to take place.  In doing so, your client as well as you will be protected.
7. What do you expect of me as your supervisee?
   Yes, your supervisor will have expectations of you and the best way to meet them is to go in informed.  A professional clinical supervisor will have a written contract that stipulates your supervisor’s expectations (as well as your own).  Don’t accept a supervisor who does not have this in place.
8. What conflicts typically arise between you and your supervisee?
   Everyone has conflicts.  You want a supervisor who is aware of them and comfortable enough to talk about them openly and honestly.
9. How do you handle conflict when it arises with a supervisee?
   You want to know that your supervisor has basic problem solving skills.
10. How do you address counter transference between me and my client?
    As a new therapist, it is likely that you may not have much experience dealing with this predictable but sticky issue.  You’ll want a clinical supervisor who doesn’t flinch, judge or shy away from helping you develop skills to deal with issues of transference and counter transference.

Are you finding these questions to be helpful?

These questions came from the Institute in Counselor Supervision taught at the University of North Texas’ Counseling Program by Carolyn W. Kern, Ph.D., LPC, NCC and Cynthia K. Chandler, Ed.D., LPC, LMFT.

Related Posts

10 Questions You Must Ask Your Prospective Supervisor

Clinical Supervision and Money Gouging

Tags: Contract, Counter Transference, Professional Association, Transference

Community service is a terrific way to build name recognition for your business

"Long Gnome's Long Nose" by Orin Optiglot / Orin Zebest

while doing good works for your home town. Ken Pope, Ph.D. was generous enough to pass along a link to this post about an Alzheimer’s Cafe in the United Kingdom.

As you are considering the many ways that your time may be used in the pursuit of more clients, consider volunteering in your own community.  The possibilities are endless.

Are you already volunteering in your community?  Drop us a note here to let us know where!  (Consider it bragging rights for your practice!)

Tags: Name Recognition, Volunteer

As I was reading Jung at Heart, one of my new and favorite blogs by Jungian psychotherapist, Cheryl Fuller, I ran across her post on the importance of boundaries in scheduling.

"Wall of Clocks" by rustman / Russ Morris

Check out her inspiration for the post, her own post, and then drop back in here to share your thoughts about scheduling clients and the transition in between them.

Tags: Boundaries

If your post-graduate supervision is not all that you had hoped for, there may be a really good reason.  Do you know that clinical supervision is different from administrative supervision?

An administrative supervisor typically operates from a business model rather than a clinical model.  His priority is to make sure that the organization (or her department) runs smoothly. There are local, state, and federal regulations  (like the EEOC guidelines and the Disability Act) that impact his decisions concerning her supervision of you.

Administrative supervisors are often

"In Which Zac Never Realized . . . " by Zac Peckler

what you encounter as a new graduate entering the workforce through an agency, hospital, or school setting. You will recognize an administrative supervisor because he will emphasize paperwork and productivity, managing your caseloads, scheduling, and accountability.

An administrative supervisor must train employees to systematically complete basic paperwork, manage crises, work within systems, and deal with large numbers of clients needing many different things at the same time.  There is much to be learned from an administrative supervisor that will serve you well throughout your career but this is NOT clinical supervision.

If you are frustrated with the quality of the supervision you are receiving, perhaps you assumed that the supervision you would be receiving from your supervisor would be clinical supervision rather than administrative supervision.  Here are some things that you can do to insure that your experience under supervision is all that you want it to be.

Related Posts

9 Steps You Can Take to Insure a Great Supervisory Experience

4 Things to Consider if Your Supervision is Less Than Ideal

Supervision or Consultation?

Tags: Client Load, Crisis, Documentation, Schedule

For those of you who have a penchant for writing,

"And, Even If I Leave You Here" by Martha Smith

this can be an excellent way to boost your visibility and name recognition while supplementing your income.

Certified Life Coach and writer, Dr. Lani Marconi, has posted a great little  “how-to” guide based on her experience in self-publishing.  The article is titled, How to Write a Book and Publish It for Under $1000.

If you have additional tips to share about self-publishing, I would love to have you leave them here!

Tags: Book, Name Recognition, Self-Publishing

The National Child Traumatic Stress Network is offering free continuing education through their Culture and Trauma Speaker Series.

November 18, 2009
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
It’s Not All Black & White: Working with African-American Families in Post-Katrina New Orleans

December 16, 2009
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
Clinical Implications of Spirituality, Religion, and Child Trauma Recovery

January 20, 2010
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
Making Strengthening Family Coping Resources Relevant to African-American Families in Urban Poverty Contexts: Stakeholder Input in the Treatment Development Process

February 17, 2010
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
In-Home TF-CBT and the Self-Reflection Process

March 17, 2010
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
Cultural Considerations in Working with Latino Clients Using the Child-Parent Psychotherapy Model

April 21, 2010
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
Immigration & Trauma: Clinical Observations of Four Immigrant Psychotherapists Working with Latino Immigrant Families

May 19, 2010
1 pm EST / 12 pm CST / 10 am PST
Hispanic Stigmas Toward Trauma Treatment & Engagement Recommendations in TF-CBT

To sign up or get additional information about these distance learning opportunities, click here.

Tags: Continuous Learning, Culture, Distance Learning, Trauma

I was checking out posts at one of my favorite blogs,  Shrink Rap , when I ran across this little jewel.  Oh, ok, it’s not directly about building your private practice but it is about critical thinking and moral decision making and that is what we are called to do and to help our clients do on a daily basis.

"Justice" by YO lXl YNTL

What I’m talking about is . . . Justice with Michael Sandel, one of Harvard’s most popular courses.  This twelve class series is now available on line at no cost to you – complete with an episode guide, reading assignments and discussion guides.

Take a peek and see if this is something that can enrich your professional life.  If so, drop back in here at Private Practice from the Inside Out and let’s talk about it!

Tags: Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Ethics

New therapists often use the terms “supervision” and “consultation” interchangeably.  The problem is that they refer to very different relationships and obligations.  Do you know the difference between supervision and consultation?

Supervision is hierarchical. It often occurs

"Hierarchy" by brka / Kristijan Brkic

within the context of your schooling, employment or post-graduation when you are attempting to satisfy client contact hours for licensure in your state.  If you are under supervision, then you are required to comply with any directives given to you by your supervisor.

Consultation occurs between colleagues or peers and is often used as a way to expand a therapist’s ideas for working with a client.  Consultation is also considered a risk management tool but obligates you to take no specific action other than that based on your own professional judgment.

Related Posts

10 Questions You Must Ask Your Potential Supervisor

9 Steps You Can Take to Insure a Great Supervisory Experience

4 Things to Consider if Your Supervision is Less Than Ideal

Tags: Supervision

When you decide to seek clinical consultation, there are 5 things that you should document in your clinical notes.  They are the 5 W’s:

• When you seek consultation;
• Why you are seeking consultation and why now;
• Who you are seeking consultation from;
• What opinions / information / recommendations you are receiving from that person even if they contradict your own clinical judgment;
• What your final professional opinion / plan is and why you are / are not going to go along with the recommendations received.
  

  "Questions" by Tim O'Brien / Oberazzi

In other words, your clinical rationale all along the way needs to be documented in your notes.  Why?  To protect both you and your client.

Should you end up in a malpractice suit (which is quite possible), your proper documentation will assist you in explaining your thought process concerning your work with your client.  Likewise, should anything happen to suddenly prevent you from continuing to work with your client, your general direction of treatment can more likely continue seemlessly because you have taken the time to thoroughly document your clinical rationale and intent.

Tags: Documentation

If you are twenty-something and just out of graduate school, take heart!  I just read this guest post by Dan Schawbel in Penelope Trunk’s Brazen Careerist.  Dan points out how your generation has been raised on personal branding.  Check out his article here.

Tags: Brand, Gen-Y

You simply will not be the same person two months from now after consciously giving thanks each day for the abundance that exists in your life. And you will have set in motion an ancient spiritual law: the more you have and are grateful for, the more will be given you.” ~ Sarah Ban Breathnach ~

Given the changing face of health care,

"Red Thread at WSDP Nepal" by Sara Parker

the roller coaster economy, and the general upheaval in the world, it’s easy to focus on our fears and frustrations.  However, what I know is that most of us still have much to be grateful for.

At our house, we are celebrating our first Thanksgiving with our puppy, Opie, and yet another Thanksgiving with our two older dogs, Punky and Taylor;  I am grateful for an ever-growing circle of friends and family, a strong business with a steady stream of clients and referral sources, and continued opportunities to teach; I am grateful for my partner of 14 years and I am grateful for you who takes the time to drop in here.

Today, what is it that you are thankful for?

Tags: Abundance, Gratitude, Red Thread, Thanksgiving