DR. LYNN FRIEDMAN'S BLOG, "ALL THINGS PSYCHOANALYTIC": January 2010

Dr. Lynn Friedman welcomes referrals for supervision or consultation, feel free to call her.

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Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 19, 2010 at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

developing a Private Practice Blog - Making referrals- Dr. Lynn Friedman - psychologist - Johns Hopkins course

You've been telling EVERYONE that you work with (or will work with) people with commitment problems or marital problems or ADD or, "the blues". And, you have set-up a study group on the topic. Because you initiated the study group, you have regular contact with each of the members as you hash out the schedule. So you are getting to know the members.

You've noticed that some people are starting to tell you about people who are struggling with the issues in your area of expertise. You listen empathically - and, when you are asked for a referral you recommend one of the more skilled members of your study group. You offer to contact the clinician directly and streamline the referral, with their permission. In this way, you to have a chance to get to know more about how your colleague works and to begin to establish an atmosphere of mutual professional respect. Also, they have an opportunity to get to know how you think. Thus, you are laying the groundwork for sharing referrals down the pike.

But how do you get actual referrals coming in .... and, what do you do with them if you are not actually yet in practice.... coming next. For those seeking a sneak preview, check this out: www.drlynnfriedman.com/psychoanalystadvocacyprint.html
Although the suggestions are written for analysts, they apply to all clinicians.

Best to all, LVF

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

Dr. Lynn Friedman welcomes referrals for supervision or consultation, feel free to call her.

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Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 19, 2010 at 07:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Developing a Private Practice Blog - establishing a study group- Dr. Lynn Friedman - psychologist - Johns Hopkins course

Establishing a Study Group

You've declared your clinical interests and you have begun meeting peers who share your interests as well as colleagues who are ahead of you on their clinical journey. You are talking with them, learning with them and getting to know them. You want to learn more about their clinical thinking and you want them to get to know you, too!

There are many ways to do this. One possibility is to start a clinical study group. These sorts of groups can meet regularly (once a month is a good frequency), on a regular schedule, in a private place, to discuss the topic at hand. For example, if you have a special interest in kids who have trouble concentrating in class (or who have ADD), you might meet with others who are involved in this clinical endeavor to discuss readings and/or clinical material. Of course, if you decide to do the latter, be sure to carefully outline the ground rules of confidentiality - and, make sure everyone is legally bound to them. That is, do not allow laypeople to participate in groups in which clinical material is being discussed. These sorts of study groups can be comprised of people at different levels or experience or people at similar levels. Consider, also, including people who serve different parts of the city.

I'll be back tomorrow with more thoughts.

Best to all, LVF

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

http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/about.html

Dr. Lynn Friedman welcomes referrals for supervision or consultation, feel free to call her.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 18, 2010 at 08:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

work-life blog - Dr. Lynn Friedman - Psychologist - Should you have career goals

This week brought a letter from a reader who asserted that they had work-life goals, and they had a plan for those goals but they just couldn't seem to galvanize themselves to get started pursuing those goals.

This happens to all of us at times. We know we want to lose weight, we have a plan for doing it.. but then, we don't. Or, we know we want to complete a task. We have a plan for doing it but the best laid plans...

So, how do we understand that and what do we do about it? Here's an article on just that topic.

Developing a Strategy for Pursuing Work-Life Goals: Overcoming Resistance

This is the third part of a three part series on identifying and pursuing your Work-life goals. Part I and Part II dealt with:

What do you want to do with your life?
How do you develop a strategy for doing it?

Part III addresses four topics:

Roadblocks to pursuing the well-codified plan.
How do you begin to understand your resistance to pursuing your career goals?
Steps for overcoming roadblocks.
Interventions that might prove helpful should you find yourself stymied.

Roadblocks to pursuing the well-codified plan

What if you know what you want to do with your life -- you know that you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or a web designer or a political scientist or a teacher or something so novel that it doesn't even, yet, have a name. You have articulated a strategy for pursuing this goal. You have found a dedicated mentor or you have joined a Work-life group. You have read about your field of interest. You are well-informed. You are learning more and more about the field everyday. You feel that you have found the perfect fit.

Yet, despite your best laid plans to tenaciously pursue your career goals, you find yourself immobilized. You can't seem to put one foot ahead of the other. Or, once you get started, you can't seem to maintain your efforts. What then? What gets in the way? If this is your situation, you may want to attempt to understand your "resistance". Continued here:www.drlynnfriedman.com/obstaclestocareergoals.html

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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

http://www.drlynnfriedman.typepad.com

http://www.twitter.com/drlynnfriedman
Those seeking consultation are welcome to call.

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Posted via email from Finding your Work-life Calling

Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 16, 2010 at 09:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Developing a Private Practice Blog - getting referrals: describing what you do- Dr. Lynn Friedman - psychologist - Johns Hopkins course

Making referrals when you don't have a practice

How do you make referrals when you don't yet have a practice? That is, how do you generate referrals? There are several methods for doing this and the ones that you select will depend on your personal style and your temperament. This week we will cover a myriad of possibilities.

First and foremost, when people ask you what you are doing or what you want to do, tell them that you are a clinician in private practice (or who will be starting a private practice). Be prepared to answer the question, what kinds of people do you see or do you want to see in a few, clear short sentences. And, this is key, in English NOT jargon. For example, don't say, "I like to work with patients with thus and such a diagnosis". Say, "I work with patients who have trouble in relationships", or "who have conflict with authority" or "who are chronically worried" or "who are single and who can not seem to find the right significant other" or "who have trouble concentrating in school".

The key here is to describe situations that are familiar to anyone living on the planet. Every parent knows a child who is having difficulty concentrating in school, even if their child is doing fine. And, every person knows someone who can't seem to get themselves hitched (if this is what they desire) with a loving partner. www.drlynnfriedman.com/committedrelation.html
There's much more to be said on the topic of generating referral and I'll be back tomorrow with more to say on this important topic.

Best to all, LVF

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

http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/about.html

Dr. Lynn Friedman welcomes referrals for supervision or consultation, feel free to call her.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 14, 2010 at 09:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

work-life blog - Dr. Lynn Friedman - Psychologist - Should you have career goals

This email has been edited for purposes of confidentiality.

Dear Dr. Lynn Friedman,

Should we have career goals? Is it OK if we don't or that our 'life goals' overshadow or make invisible 'career goals'?

-------
I am not sure who you put in charge. It seems to me that these are very intimate personal choices. However, since you asked, I will share my bias. In this day and age, everyone should assume, despite the best laid plans, that there will (or can) come a time when you will have to support yourself. For those who opt to be stay-at-home parents, just make sure that you are prepared for plan B. That is, make sure that you are trained/prepared to support yourself in a life style to which you have become accustomed -- or that you truly know what it means to cut-back and you don't mind doing it. Just my bias.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.

Psychologist, psychoanalyst, work-life consultant

Faculty Associate, Johns Hopkins University

5480 Wisconsin Avenue

Chevy Chase, MD 20815

301.656.9650

http://www.drlynnfriedman.typepad.com

http://www.twitter.com/drlynnfriedman

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Posted via email from Finding your Work-life Calling

Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 14, 2010 at 08:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Developing a Private Psychotherapy Practice Blog - Dr. Lynn Friedman - Johns Hopkins University - Psychologist: Niche - Once you have a niche

What do you do once you have a niche?

Let's say that you know that you are interested in working couples or doing marriage counseling, or working with kids with ADHD, or doing long-term therapy and becoming a psychoanalyst. A first step is to find out what people who are pursuing those fields have done. What coursework have they taken? What placements and training have they pursued? What are they reading? And, how are they getting clients or patients.

How do you do that? In the coursework arena, you might try asking your professors, asking alumni from your program (don't know how to find them? Now is the time to start an alumni listserv) and looking into advanced, postgraduate training programs in your area of interest. What postgraduate training programs are offered in your locale in your unique niche. Start asking about them and start investigating. Even as a student it is not too early to begin to explore your options. Also, what one shot continuing education workshops are offered? It's not too early to enroll in a workshop in your area of interest. Although some of the material may be too advanced you will begin to meet professionals in the field and you can start interviewing them about their career paths. As for reading, stop by your university library and do a literature search (nowadays you can do this online). Begin to read the professional literature in your area and begin to read the lay literature, too. As for the topic of how they are getting clients or patients, I'll address that in tomorrow's email.

Best to all, LVF

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

http://www.drlynnfriedman.com/about.html

Dr. Lynn Friedman welcomes referrals for supervision or consultation, feel free to call her.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////Posted via email from drlynnfriedman's posterous

Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 13, 2010 at 06:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Work-life blog - Dr. Lynn Friedman - Psychologist - The Boss Who Yells - Washington Post

Edited for purposes of confidentiality

Dear Dr. Lynn Friedman:

Why is it so many buffoons ascend to positions of power and influence (and great pay), while much smarter and more capable people are often mired in middle management? I can't tell you how many times I've witnessed absolute morons get promoted, etc., while more qualified people have been passed over. Why does this seem to happen so often?
------------

I'll tell you why. In order to get promoted, you have to please the person doing the promoting. You can't threaten them. You can't prove that they are "buffoons". You can't humilate them in public. You can't expose their ignorance and stupidity. In some way, you have to support them. Look a little more closely. That's what these "buffoons" are doing.

Best, Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.

//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.

Psychologist, psychoanalyst, work-life consultant

Faculty Associate, Johns Hopkins University

5480 Wisconsin Avenue

Chevy Chase, MD 20815

301.656.9650

http://www.drlynnfriedman.typepad.com

http://www.twitter.com/drlynnfriedman

Those seeking consultation, I welcome your call.

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

Posted via email from Finding your Work-life Calling

Posted by Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. on January 13, 2010 at 08:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Developing a Private Practice Blog - getting referrals: networking - Dr. Lynn Friedman - psychologist - Johns Hopkins course

Becoming skilled and referring to others

Renting an office

What other steps can you take to lay the groundwork for your private practice? It's important for you to consider not only how to get patients but also how to be helpful to them once they arrive. I will have more to say about that at the future.

What can you do to obtain referrals? The key to obtaining referrals is first, to do really good work, that is to become a talented clinician. The second is to refer to others. Of course this must sound like a vicious circle. How can you become skilled if you don't have patients and how can you refer if you don't have referrals?

O.K. Take a deep breath. Contact any experienced clinician and ask them if you can rent their office one or two evenings a week. If they say, "no", ask them if they know anyone who is interested in renting to them. Be sure to pick a location by the metro. If you are in the D.C. area, your practice development will be easier the closer you are to Dupont circle. Bethesda and Rockville are more challenging though by no means impossible.

Now, you have established an address. Print up your cards with your cell phone. Change the message so that they don't get your favorite musac and hipster message. Say something like, hello, you have reached Ms. Mary Smith, Licensed Professional Counselor or Dr. Mary Smith, Clinical Psychologist. Your friends will tease you but you want to present a professional image.

Establish a web presence. (I'll say more about this in the future.)

When you attend workshops, network. Talk to others. Tell everyone that you have opened a private practice and that you are accepting referrals. More importantly, ask them about themselves, their practice and find out what sorts of referrals they are seeking. Ask THEM for their card. If it doesn't have an email address, ask them for their email address.

When you discover people who you feel are skilled and who you like, refer to them. Still wondering how you are getting referrals? We'll get to that. But, today's recommendation is that you begin to identify people who you feel are talented clinicians, who you like and refer to them. These may include your internship supervisors, your teachers, alumni from your program, people who you meet in your postgraduate training program and people who you meet in workshops. How do you get to know them? Tell them that you'd love to have coffee to get to know them better for so you can refer to them. When you go to coffee, ask them about their practice and tell them about yours.

Best to all, LVF

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

P.P. P. S. there are any eager beavers in the crowd, check this out: www.drlynnfriedman.com/psychoanalystadvocacycons.html Although it's written for psychoanalysts, many of the suggestions will apply to you.

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