Earlier this month, I was asked to speak to a group of new professionals interning at Aurora Mental Health Center.  The topic was on why it’s important to join your state and national professional associations.  Just in case you are hesitating, here are 23 reasons that I believe you should join your professional associations today.

1. This is your number one career development tool.
2. This is how mental health professionals get things done.
3. Often there are special resources available to you.
4. This is where you go to learn how to be a professional.
5. This is how you stay informed about your profession’s standards of practice.
6. This is where you learn about professional trends and mandated changes in practice.
7. This is where you can build relationships and expand your network.
8. This is where you get continuing education at affordable prices via conferences, workshops, and forums.
9. Often those continuing education opportunities include a free breakfast, lunch or dinner.
10. This is how you protect and promote your own profession.
11. This is where you increase others awareness of your practice or your employer’s visibility in the community.
12. Student memberships are often reduced or no fee.
13. There are always opportunities here to give back to / build up your profession by your volunteer efforts within the organization.
14. There are often opportunities for community service.
15. This is where you go to stretch your own thinking and stay creative in your work.
16. This is where you learn what others in your profession are doing.
17. This is where you can easily establish yourself as a leader.
18. This organization may choose to sponsor your work, research, or workshop.
19. Many organizations offer members free listings and links on their websites.
20. This is who negotiates for the best and most affordable liability insurance.
21. This is where you get free advice on ethics issues.
22. Many organizations offer job placement services.
23. This will allow you to know other professionals to consult with and refer to (and vice versa) as your needs dictate.

I’m sure there are more benefits / reasons to join.  Can you tell me why you’ve joined your professional associations?

Tags: Ethics, Insurance, Relationships, Workshop

Erin Blakemore of VOCO Creative wrote a great little post suggesting 10 easy ways to nurture those online relationships you are building.

Whether you call it “do unto others,” “cross-promotion,” or “backscratchin,” the results are the same.  Check out her tips and get busy building your private practice with social media!

Then, drop in here and tell us where we can find you and how it’s working for you.

Tags: Relationships, Social Media

I’ve mentioned in the past that one of the ways that I keep my marketing  fresh is that I borrow ideas from other professions.

This morning I was reading Erika Trimble’s blog, Physical Therapy Biz Success, when I ran across a great little post on setting priorities. She recommends the A-B-C-D-E Method for setting better priorities.

A = Critical and Urgent

These are the things that if you put off, will cost you your practice.

• Professional licenses and certifications
• The rent for your office
• Your mental – physical – emotional – spiritual health
• Transportation to and from work
• A way for your clients to contact you
• Securing your client records (to protect confidentiality)

B = Important

These are the things that really need to be done but they are not critical.  If you don’t do them in the short term, there are only minor consequences.  However, if you put them off indefinitely, the cumulative effect can bump these into the A = Critical and Urgent category.

• Vacuuming the office
• Networking
• Emptying the trash can
• Cleaning the windows
• Upgrading your computer to the most current Windows settings

C = Nice to do

These include all the niceties and, often, fun-to-do’s that can so easily distract you from your business-building tasks.  They may be of added benefit to you or your clients but if they don’t get done, you don’t incur negative consequences.

• Sending birthday / holiday greetings to your clients
• Heating up the coffee / tea pot for your clients
• Lighting the candle in your office
• Writing a new blog post
• Facebook chats
• Returning friends phone calls

D = Delegate

If you don’t do it easily and well, you need to give serious thought to delegating or contracting to get the task accomplished.

• Designing artwork for your new project’s marketing campaign (unless you are artistically inclined)
• Writing the copy for your website
• Billing clients / insurance companies
• Janitorial / building maintenance services

E = Eliminate when possible

These are often acts of repetition or 100% time wasters.

• Surfing the Internet
• Creating handouts for your clients over and over again
• Explaining your policies for payment, no shows, and late arrivals
• Some correspondence including letters of introduction, marketing letters, and reminder letters

As you are gearing up for 2010, make sure you take some time to re-think your priorities.  Assign each of your to-do’s an A, B, C, D, or E using Erika’s method of prioritizing and then let me know what changes for you.

What is it that  you think is important . . . to attend to, to delegate, and to eliminate as you build your private practice?

Tags: Critical & Urgent, Delegate, Priorities

I just discovered a free source for professional development (no CEU’s) at

"Podcast Subscribe" by Derrickkwa

CounselorAudioSource.net .  This website offers free weekly podcasts on topics primarily of clinical interest to counselors.

Additionally, if you would like to expand your resume to include your own podcasts on topics relevant to counselors, you can check out their guidelines and suggestions for contributing here.

Do you know of other free resources for the professional development of counselors and allied health professionals?  If so, please let us know!

Tags: Free, Podcast, Resume

As 2010 gets under way, I hope you’re planning for your professional development needs.  I am excited to say that will be attending (not presenting at) the annual conference of the Association for Women in Psychology February 11-14, 2010 in Portland, Oregon.  AWP is a terrific professional organization open to all mental health students and professionals.

If you are also planning to attend this conference,  I hope you’ll take a moment to let me know so that we can meet face to face and possibly share a bite to eat together!

Tags: Professional Association, Professional Development

According to Richard K. Harding, M.D.,

One does not escape war by leaving the war zone.”

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1057/751707089_c25111d1c8.jpg

And, here’s the reason why . . . .

From a business perspective, this is a potential niche for you.

Is anyone out there already working with veterans?  Care to comment?

Tags: Military, Niche, War

If you have been marketing to the educational community with little success, you may need to slow down and reassess your own educational history.  Your personal relationship with education may be getting in the way . . . .

Linda L. Lawless and G. Jean Wright suggest in their book, How to Get Referrals: The Mental Health Professional’s Guide to Strategic Marketing, that you ask the following questions when reviewing your educational history:

"Not My Hat!" by Alan Levine / cogdogblog

• Are there any teachers in your family? Are any family members employed by the school system?  What is their input to other family members regarding their work and the system?
• What has been the family response to their vocation?
• What educational levels have been attained by family members?  Did they attend public or private schools?  If private, was it religious or nonsectarian?
• What has been shared about their experience?  What was the quality of the experience?
• What has been your educational experience from kindergarten through graduate school?  Your siblings?  How do you rate it?
• Who were your favorite teachers?  Worst teachers?  In your experience and /or perceptions, what were the characteristics of each that made them “good” or “bad” teachers?  As you reflect on these relationships, what are you feeling now?
• What are your family’s belief systems, biases, prejudices, regarding education and the educational system (school taxes, the school board, election of board members)?
• Did any family members ever serve on the school board?
• What is your trust level of teachers?
• Do you have special training that would correlate with the experiences and needs of educational professionals?
• Do you have children in school?  If so, public or private?  How do you make decisions regarding your children’s education?

It is critical when marketing to the educational community that you feel comfortable and that they know that. Liberally share your unique school stories with other professionals in the educational community.  Use your unique experiences to help guide where you choose to enter the market.  If you attended a private or parochial school, consider focusing your energy on the same.

By taking the time to reflect on your own school experiences, you will increase your comfort and effectiveness in marketing to this community.

Related Posts

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

Gathering Market Research on the Educational Community

Teachers Needs Vary and So Should Your Marketing Strategies

Tags: School, Stories

I’ve been reading Louis Baraja’s book, Small Business, Big Life: 5 Steps to Creating a  Great Life with Your Own Small Business.  In it he lists the  22 Temptations of a Small Business Owner that entrepreneurs often fail to notice and then stumble over while building their businesses.

That list got me to thinking about the many ways that psychotherapists and allied health professionals get tripped up on the way to building their businesses so I decided to share my list of 22 things you say (with a nod t o Louis Baraja) before you even know your private practice is in trouble .

You Know Your Private
Practice is in Trouble When You Say . . . .

1. “I’ve always been ‘Dear Abbey’ with my friends so I might as well hang my shingle out and charge for it!” Just because you are good at something doesn’t mean that you should do it professionally.  And, even if you decide that you want to work in health care, you need to take time to consider the huge differences between working for yourself and working for someone else.  Those differences matter.
   
2. “I’m not really sure what I’m doing business-wise . . . but I have a client!” The vast majority of businesses that succeed start with a plan . . . not necessarily a Business Plan but they all have a plan.  By that I mean you need to have an understanding of how the business fits into the larger plan for your whole life . . . and how it contributes to that bigger life plan.
   
3. “I haven’t thought about how many hours I want to work or how much money I want to make this year . . . but I know I want to help people. When you enter into private practice especially in health care, you need to begin with the end in mind.  The end matters and will actually dictate the choices that you make along the way.  By keeping your values and your priorities at the forefront  (including how many hours you want to work and how much money you want to make), you will be better able to stay focused on the tasks necessary to achieve your ideal business.
   
4. “I don’t have regular business hours.  I work late into the night on my business” and eventually “I’ve burned out.” It’s easy when you’re getting started to over-commit and over-invest in your business.  What I know is that you cannot give what you do not have . . . good boundaries, balanced life, energy and focus, etc.  Self-care is critical especially at the start of a new practice or a new project.  Reinforce those habits now . . . at the beginning.  And, if you don’t have them, find a therapist or coach to help you put them in place.  Otherwise, you will not survive the demands of private practice.
   
5. “My preference is to hire and network with people just like me.” I know that you’re more comfortable with people just like you (Me, too!) but they won’t help you long term take your business to the next level.  Differences in skills, experiences, and even politics will be assets to you in many ways.  As long as the people you hire and network with can share your vision for your practice, their differences can serve you well.
   
6. “My business partner and I constantly struggle with the direction of the business.” If that’s true, then you’ve got too many leaders in the room.  In your practice, your vision is the one that needs to be the guiding force.  Be cautious and be clear about why you want to partner with someone.  Often it is a better choice to hire or consult with individuals (assuming they buy in to your vision) rather than bringing in an actual partner (who has a different / competing vision on his own).
   
7. “I am constantly reinventing the wheel.” Take the time to create systems and templates to streamline your work so that as your appointment book begins to fill in, you are able to efficiently delegate or complete your repetitive tasks.    
   
8. “I work with everything and everybody.” Don’t say it!  Stay focused on your ideal client and market to him or her.  Of course, you’ll work with others but target your message and your efforts to working only with your ideal client and withing your niche.
   
9. “I need to work harder at ___________.” [fill in your weakness] Successful entrepreneurs delegate or manage their weaknesses; they focus on their strengths.  In fact, Marlane Miller in her book, BrainStyles, says that by focusing on our weaknesses, we just build stronger weaknesses.
   
10. “I can’t spend money until I start making money.” Wrong!  Have faith in your calling and invest in your practice.  If you aren’t willing to invest in you, don’t expect anyone else to invest in your either!
    
11. “My friend needs a little extra income so I’m going to hire her to do my accounting.” Hire people because they are exquisitely qualified and not because they are your friend and you want to help someone out.  You are running a business, not a social service organization.
    
12. “I’m really good at flying by the seat of my pants so I’ll just deal with it when it comes up.” Not a good idea.  Take the time to create a plan . . . a blueprint for your practice and for your life.  Then, stick to it.
    
13. “I don’t need to hire anyone to do anything.  I can do it all myself!  (And, besides, I’ll save money doing it this way!) If this is what you’re thinking, then you have some control issues to deal with.  You cannot do everything well and if you cannot do it well, you need to find someone i.e hire someone else who will do it well. 
    
14. “I’ll hang my shingle out and the masses will come!” No.  They won’t.  What will get clients is a strategic plan and follow through.  Who are you going to talk to about your practice? Where are you going to publicize your practice?
    
15. “In order to open my private practice, I need all the bells and whistles . . . a white noise machine, new office furniture, a posh location, special software to keep my progress notes in, etc.” Not really.  What’s going to prepare you to open your private practice is you laying the foundation for name recognition, building trust in the community, and following through on your commitments.
    
16. “I will work with anyone who will pay me.” Another bad idea.  Work with your ideal clients.  It’s your calling.  Refer the others out.
    
17. “This is too hard so I quit.” Many therapists throw in the towel and quit too soon because they didn’t go get the info that they really needed – the business and marketing info that you didn’t get in graduate school.  Take the time to learn the info . . . take classes, read articles, interview other more seasoned therapists, hire a business coach.  Learn what you need to know in order to jump start your practice. 
    
18. “I’m doing great so I’m not going to ask for feedback.” When you’re doing great, is the perfect time to ask for feedback!  Learn what you are doing well so that you keep getting that feedback.
    
19. “I know everything there is to know about being in private practice” or “There are things I need to know but I’m not going to pay another professional to get that information because  I’m not worth it or I’ll figure it out.” Again, quit fooling yourself and go get the help / info that you need.  Hire a counselor or an attorney or a coach or whomever.  Don’t just delude yourself into failing.  It’s not necessary!
    
20. “I don’t know how to explain to clients why they should work with me.” That’s a really big problem.  Then you need help learning to articulate what gifts you bring to your practice.  Sign up for a class, hire a coach, work with a copywriter or wordsmith.  It’s one of the single most important things you can do to build your reputation in the community.
    
21. “What’s wrong with my clients?  They aren’t getting better.” Well, that’s definitely a problem . . .  and it’s a bigger problem for you than it is for your clients!  If your clients aren’t getting better, you need to change . . . start or stop doing something, learn something new, talk with a consultant, etc.  Whatever you do, don’t blame it on “resistent clients.” 
    
22. “I don’t need an exit strategy because I’m going to be in this business forever.” Even if you do plan to be in private practice forever, you still need make an exit plan.  It will help you focus on building your practice up . . . to promote, to sell, or to expand.

Have you tripped up on these already?  Or, do you have other red-flag statements to share?

Tags: Priorities, Strategic Plan, Strength, Systems, Vision

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

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

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: Civility, Common Ground, Conflict, Discussion List, Online Etiquette, Peter Shankman, Professional Communication, Public Image, Social Media, Trigger, Your Motive

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: Baggage, Relationship Assets, Risk Aversion

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

Carla read my post here and wrote in asking:

What do you do when as a result of finding out that you are a counselor, your church now wants you to provide counseling services to members of the congregation? Or the fact that you have taught classes at ministry events, and as a result some of the participants want to come see you?”

"Nice, Small Church" by Speediakal

How flattering!  But, here are 9 things that I consider before deciding whether or not to see members of my own church . . . .

1. Size matters.  I have found that it is difficult to be active in a church whose congregation numbers only 200 and still maintain my privacy.  That, in turn, colors my professional relationship with my client.  He knows more about me (and I know more him) than is always best.  If, on the other hand, my congregation numbers 1000, then it may be relatively easy for me to maintain my privacy and to minimize personal interactions outside of the counseling office.
2. I consider how I will handle it if I discover that my client is sexually or romantically involved with one of the leaders in my church (who happens to be married).  As far fetched as that may sound to you, it is not all that uncommon and it may very well change how you feel about your church home.  It did for me.  And, that’s before my client AND my church leader both wanted to vent to me, wanted me to choose sides, and then wanted me to publicly condone their behaviors to others!
3. I also consider how my own unforeseen weaknesses / foibles in my personal or church life (challenges in relationships, lapses in judgement, my own spiritual practices, etc.) might negatively impact my relationship with my client . . . .  Unanticipated exposure of those things can actually color what happens in my church and with my client.
4. I also consider the possibility that my partner / spouse / friend / child / sibling / parent may want to befriend my client.  That’s a mess in and of itself! And, what will I do if I believe (from my  clinical work) that the relationships with my client might not be good for my loved one?
5. I’ve had clients catch me before I could dash off from church services to “catch me up” on the latest chapter of their weekend disaster.  Do I want to do therapy in the parking lot?  Do I want to act disinterested?  Or, do I want to dread seeing that client every time I enter the church door?
6. I also have to consider if / how I am going to interact with my clients when I see them.  Am I going to speak to my clients when I see them at church?  Am I going to ignore them?  What if my new client sits down beside me on the pew?  Wants to hug me?  Asks me to take communion with her — or just “conveniently” times it so that it happens that way?
7. What if I sign up for a church dinner club and get assigned to the one that my client attends?  Am I going to explain to the host why I had to leave abruptly when my client showed up?  Am I just going to let the host think I’ve lost my mind?  (Yep, that’s exactly what I did as I ran out the back door.)
8. What if I agree to host a Bible study and my client shows up . . . or his wife . . . or someone who eventually becomes his spouse?  Am I really going to ask my client to leave because there’s a dual relationship if he stays?
9. Sometimes clients can be possessive of their therapists (and you won’t always know this ahead of time).  I’ve had Client A  show up “hurt” or mad at his therapy appointment because he had seen me talking to someone else at church.

OK, so I could go on and on . . . . My point is this . . . .  While much of this can make for great grist for the clinical work that you do with a client, do you really REALLY want to contaminate your personal life (and the lives of your loved ones), your spiritual home, and your professional life with this stuff?  Just think about it and, if you do, consult, consult, consult.

Can you think of other questions / situations / concerns to consider before jumping in to provide therapy within your own religious community?

Tags: Boundaries, Consultation, Ethics, Policies and Protocols, Reputation

As you develop your marketing strategies for working with the educational community, don’t forget to consider collaborating with your competitors.

• Begin by asking professionals in education for the names and contact info of other health professionals they work with.
• Contact those individuals whose names your were given.  Invite them to meet with you to discuss possible ways for health professionals to collaborate.
• Create a resource directory / guide that details each professional’s services and areas of expertise.
• Use the internet to collect the names and contact info for other allied health professionals in your geographic area who focus on education issues.
• Don’t forget to include any professional association that may also focus on these issues.  Obtain mailing lists for these organizations.
• Send a personalized cover letter introducing yourself to each individual with a copy of your resource directory / guide.
• Invite each individual to complete a form (which you will include with the letter above) and return it to you if they wish to be included in the next version of the resource directory.
• Follow up with a telephone call to arrange a meeting with each one.

In this way, your competitors become your allies and you strengthen your position in the educational community.

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Tags: Collaborate, Community Resources, Competitor, Cover Letter, Mailing List, Professional Association, School