Fast Company just sent me their online newsletter with an article (well, really a slide show) titled, “The Kanye Curriculum: 7 Ways to Be a Success.” According to Kanye West, the very first key to success is “Know your worth.” I agree.
For psychotherapists, artists, and healing arts professionals, knowing what you’re worth is key to attracting your ideal client and building a strong practice.
If you don’t know what your services are worth,
"Money Grab" by Steve Wampler
here are four ways to find out:
- Call your state licensing board and ask them what the UCR, Usual and Customary Rate, is for someone with your credentials. When I moved to Colorado, I called the Licensed Professional Counselors Board of Examiners to ask what LPC’s charge. (In 2002, their response was ” between $80 and $125 per hour.”)
- Poll the professionals in your geographic area. Call them up, introduce yourself and explain that you are doing a survey of your profession’s fees in the area. Ask them what they charge for their hourly fee. (And, offer to share your results with them. Better yet, offer to share it with us here at All Things Private Practice)
- Check out Psychotherapy Finances. They poll their subscribers each year and do the work for you!
- Contact the state division of your professional association. For me, that’s the Colorado Counseling Association. Most state organizations will have this type of information available to share with the general public.
And, do the rest of us a favor . . . let us know what you learn about UCRs in your geographic area and tell us where you got your information.
[...] One of the choices every practitioner in private practice has to make is how to set your fees. [...]