Getting Testimonials From Your Clients And Colleagues

May
17
2010
by Tamara Suttle

Unlike many professionals, those in mental health cannot ethically ask therapy clients / ex-clients for testamonials.  Nor can you use your client’s written expressions of gratitude without their permission.  However, there are other ways to ethically gather testamonials about your quality of work and your clients’ satisfaction.

Remember that you cannot ask your therapy clients for a testamonial. And, you cannot use your client’s actual words without their permission.

  • Always gather feedback when you present to your peers in educational setting – then paraphrase their comments;
  • Gather cheers (and jeers) when you offer psycho-educational workshops;
  • Collect clippings from the media (including print, video, and online sources) that include impressions of your work;
  • Consider asking for letters of reference from practice allies who know the caliber of your work;
  • If you have a web presence, and these days every private practitioner needs one, ask referral sources to write a brief statement for your website highlighting one of your strengths.

Check back in on Thursday and I’ll give you some ideas about how to use the comments that you collect.

7 Comments

Filed under: Advertising | Publicity, Marketing Kit, Technology, To-Do's Tagged with , , ,
If you liked this post...
You'll love my updates! Sign up here to get updates delivered to your inbox.
Name Email

23 Reasons To Join Your Professional Associations Today

Mar
1
2010
by Tamara Suttle

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?

3 Comments

Filed under: Advertising | Publicity, Networking, Professional Development, Risk Management, Tools and Resources Tagged with , ,
If you liked this post...
You'll love my updates! Sign up here to get updates delivered to your inbox.
Name Email

3 Ideas For Your Marketing In September

Sep
3
2009
by Tamara Suttle

If you’ve been following AllThingsPrivatePractice from the beginning, then you know that a marketing calendar is one of my secret weapons.    Here are a few ideas for your September marketing calendar . . . .

September 16 is Working Parents Day.  How about partnering with a drop-in childcare facility.  You can offer a free workshop for the most overlooked of working parents . . . stay-at-home parents while the childcare facility offers free or low cost childcare!  Consider topics that might be of interest to stay-at-home parents like Finding Time for Self Care, Holding on to Your Dreams While Holding on to Your Little Ones, and Raising Feminist Boys.

Another marketing opportunity is International Day of Peace on September 21.  This is a day set aside to promote

Islamic Peace by Trey Ratcliff / Stuck in Customs

"Islamic Peace" by Trey Ratcliff / Stuck in Customs

peace and non-violence.  Offer to facilitate a book study for other therapists based on Marshall Rosenberg’s book, Nonviolent Communication:  A Language of Life.

Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, begins at sundown on Sunday, September 27 and ends at nightfall on Monday, September 28, 2009.  This is the most important of all Jewish holidays.  It is traditionally spent worshiping and fasting.  If you are not Jewish, consider offering to take call or cover other work-related duties for you Jewish colleagues in mental health.

Can you come up with other ideas to market your private practice in September?  Drop me a note here to share them.

1 Comment

Filed under: Advertising | Publicity, Books, Marketing, Professional Development, Referrals, To-Do's Tagged with , , , , , , ,
If you liked this post...
You'll love my updates! Sign up here to get updates delivered to your inbox.
Name Email

K-12 Student Support to Feed Your Practice

Aug
28
2009
by Tamara Suttle

Students (K-12) often  perceive their needs to be different than teacher’s perceptions of students’ needs.  Polls commonly report students’ concerns focusing on violence and other issues of safety.  If you are interested in working with children or adolescents, you may be able to begin meeting some students’ needs by creating workshops that address gang violence, date rape, intimidation and bullying.

Kids in the Classroom by Chris Suderman

"Kids in the Classroom" by Chris Suderman

What other ideas can you come up with to support students and draw them into your practice?

Related Posts

Back-to-School Marketing for Your Private Practice

2 Comments

Filed under: Marketing Tagged with ,
If you liked this post...
You'll love my updates! Sign up here to get updates delivered to your inbox.
Name Email