One reader asked, how will referring to others get me referrals?
This is a good question. In order to get referrals by giving referrals you need to take several steps. First, call the person to whom you are referring. Make sure that the person receiving the referral is willing and able to accept the patient. That is, make sure that they have the time, experience and interest in accepting the patient. If they are unwilling or unable, then the referral call will be a burden and they will have to re-refer the patient. More importantly, the patient will experience it as a rejection, no matter what their actual reason for not accepting the patient may be. It's not so easy after you muster all of your courage to call a therapist to be told that the clinician has no openings. To the unconscious this will likely be experienced as a rejection. So, for the patient's sake and for the clinician's sake, you want to pave the road to ensure that a successful connection is established.
Second, talk to the clinician and share (after getting permission from the patient) based on the information that you have, how you are thinking about the patient. This gives the clinician a, "heads up" so that they can begin to think about how they might be helpful to the patient. Also, it allows the clinician to become familiar with your clinical thinking. This means that down the road when you are accepting patients, they will know something about you and about how you think and how you work. Having learned a bit about the kinds of patients who you might treat effectively, they will know who to refer to you.
Third, and this is important, assess whether the person to whom you are referring is receptive to you. Are they responsive and appreciative? Are they collegial? Are they interested in getting to know you better? And, do you have a sense that they will relate to the people who you refer in a caring, skilled, professional and ethical way? Your goal is to establish trusting, reciprocal, referral relationships. That is, you want to find colleagues with whom you would like to share cases. For example, once you are in practice, they may see the parent while you see the child, etc. Not everyone is receptive to this. However, by talking with and meeting with your referral sources, over time you will identify a cadre of clinicians with whom you will establish reciprocal relationships. These should be people whose clinical work you trust.
Here are some more thoughts on practice development. www.drlynnfriedman.com/buildingprivatepracticeworklife.html
Best to all, LVF
(c) January 23, 2010, Dr. Lynn Friedman, All rights reserved.
P.S. The waiting list to take this class has grown. Therefore, Johns Hopkins has added a second session to be taught the last weekend in April. Already practicing professionals and graduate students from elsewhere may enroll as special students. The course will run from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. Information about registration may be obtained through the university.
P.P.S. A list of all blog posts can be found at: Dr. Lynn Friedman's, developing a private psychotherapy practice
Confidentiality Policy: Please note for reasons of confidentiality and copyright all letters to the blogger will be summarized and edited. Also, I will not write about real patients. Instead, I will create fictionalized vignettes. When you pose a clinical question, please ask it in a general way. DO NOT write about real patients. Thank you.
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Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.
Psychologist, psychoanalyst, work-life consultant
Faculty Associate, Johns Hopkins University
5480 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
301.656.9650
Follow the private practice blog
http://www.corporationsonthecouch.com
Dr. Lynn Friedman welcomes referrals for supervision or consultation, feel free to call her.
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