Beginning a private practice: Don't quit your day job
You are preparing for private practice. You done all of the right things. You've taken broad-based coursework. You have begun to develop a niche area. You are enrolled in a postgraduate program in your area of interest. You are taking workshops in your niche area. You are networking with colleagues. You are in you are in your own therapy or psychoanalysis.
You want to go out into private practice but you are afraid of, well, starvation. What steps can you take to lay the groundwork to ensure that you will be busy once you get started? First, don't quit your day job. Start by negotiating new hours with your boss. Can you work 4, 10 hour days instead of 5, 8 hour days?Can you work 80% time? In this way, you can begin your practice part-time. Rent an office by the hour so that you will not have to pay a large rent.
If possible, negotiate a shift in responsibilities. It's time to get visible. Get visible with your colleagues and with laypeople. If your organization does outreach, ask to become involved in it. For example, if you are working at an independent school, begin to do workshops for students and parents on your niche areas. If your niche is ADHD, give a workshop to the parent body. If you work at an agency, find out if you can give workshops on your niche as a part of your job. How do you develop content for your workshops? Do a careful review of the professional literature. Find out who the leaders in the field are. Attend their workshops when they present locally. In fact, go to any local workshops on the topic. You will learn how others approach the topic and you will be able to network with others who are interested in this topic. Obviously, this is only 1 of 100 things that you might do but it's a possible approach to consider.
Best to all, LVF
(c) January 11, 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.
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
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.
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Comments