Private Practice Life - Dr. Lynn Friedman - Johns Hopkins - Developing a Private Practice - Course blog

 Dear All,

Happy New Year!!!!

I teach, the Johns Hopkins course, "Developing a Successful Private Practice" in the Clinical-Counseling program. Also, I teach, "Introduction to Psychodynamic Theory and Therapy". In the fall, when I taught my graduate students asked for more. They wanted more information on: how to develop their clinical passions, how to deepen their self-awareness, how to more comprehensively develop their skills,  and how to prepare for life as a private practitioner. That is, specifically, they wanted to know: what can I do to become a skilled clinician and an effective private practitioner? Some were worried about obtaining referrals.  All were interested in developing effective methods of providing good, helpful care to their patients. Having been in private practice for many years, my experience has been that dedicating ones professional life to life-long learning and teaching leads to becoming an increasingly skilled clinician.  And, that, in turn leads to a successful private practice.  Of course, that's easier said then done.  So, I've written a blog about it.

I love my professional life and everything that goes with it!  I love my clinical practice. I love doing evaluation, psychotherapy and psychoanalysis. I love supervising and consulting to psychotherapists. I love teaching. I love community education and outreach and I love reading and writing about these very compelling endeavors.  So, I decided to write about it, not only for my graduate students but with all of the clinicians and clinicians-in-the-making who share this interest.

As for your questions:  if you are in my class, please send them to me. If I can't answer them here, then, I'll try to answer them in class. If you are not in the class, feel free to send me your questions, too. I'll do my best to answer them. But, I can't guarantee it as I'm in full-time private practice and my after work hours are largely devoted to family and friends.

Confidentiality

I take confidentiality very seriously. For reasons of confidentiality and copyright, I will not be publishing your questions.  I'll share them in the aggregate.  I will not be writing about real patients.  I will create fictitious patients -- people with whom we can all identify.  Undoubtedly, we will all recognize ourselves in some of these vignettes because they will be fairly universal.  Part of the private practice life entails zealously guarding the confidences with which we are entrusted, the more respectful we are of our patients and clients, the more respectful they become of themselves.

A Tripartite Model for the Private Practice Life

Over the years, I've developed a tripartite model for becoming a skilled clinician.  In my opinion, having a gratifying professional life in the private practice of psychotherapy entails three cornerstones:  (1) finding a way of continually deepening our understanding of and empathy for our patients, our clients, and ourselves. This entails obtaining one's own treatment, supervision and consultation with an eye towards dealing in an increasingly skillful way with patient situations. This growing capacity allows us to use ourselves in the service of the people who we see. Also, it entails creating a work-life balance. (2) designing and implementing a life long, professional development program. This includes developing a primary area(s) of expertise. (3) finding a gratifying and fulfilling way to educate ourselves, our colleagues, and the public and policy makers about one's primary area of specialization.

Over the years as I've practiced, I've treated, supervised, consulted to and taught clinicians at various stages of their professional development ranging from advanced undergraduates at Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh medical students and residents at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, clinical counseling graduate students at Johns Hopkins University, postgraduate psychoanalytic psychotherapy students at the Baltimore Washington Psychoanalytic Institute, candidates at the Washington Center for Psychoanalysis and others.  In the context of doing this work, I have found that these three cornerstones provide the bulwark for developing strong and effective therapeutic relationships with patients. This in turn, has led to developing a fulfilling, helpful private practice.

In this blog, I'll be posting nearly everyday until class begins on April 2nd.  I'll talk about a range of clinical and practice issues.  But mostly, my focus will be on taking good care of the patients who we see.  

Finally, a note about copyright. Feel free to forward these blog posts to your friends and your friend's friends and elsewhere. However, in doing so, please remember that all material is copyrighted and please be respectful of that copyright. Thank you.

A note to my graduate students in the, "Developing a Private Practice", course.

Do you have to read this blog?  No. Not yet. This course will not begin until April 2, 2010.  However, those who read the blog - and, think about what they are reading will find that they are more fully prepared for the course than they might otherwise be.  Also, if you read the blog and you comment on it and ask questions, I will be more fully prepared to address your needs when we meet in the spring.

How do you find out about new postings?  You can sign up for the blog. You can follow me on twitter. Eventually you will be able to sign up on my fan page on facebook; but, I am not there yet.

I look forward to meeting you all in April.  As for now, best wishes for a restful break and a Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.

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

(c) January 1, 2010  - Lynn Friedman, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

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
www.drlynnfriedman.com
www.corporationsonthecouch.com
www.drlynnfriedman.typepad.com
www.twitter.com/drlynnfriedman
For those seeking, evaluation for psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, supervision or consultation, I welcome your call.
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Posted via email from drlynnfriedman's posterous

Comments

[Katha W]

Dr. Lynn, I am so excited to find your blog! My graduate program does NOT have a course that specifically addresses building a private practice (it was brought up ONCE by one gracious instructor!). I am looking forward to making my way through your articles and posts, as I have mapped out my timeline and in the next 18 months, I expect to have my private practice in its growing mode!
Many many thanks!
(aka 'terraflora')

[Lynn Friedman, Ph.D.]

Hi Katha,

Thank you for your kind remarks. Where are you attending graduate school? Best, LVF

[domena]

I am great fan of your blog.Every time i come here i see something very new.Thanks for sharing the information.
Happy New Year!!!!

[paramedic training]

Well, everything about medicine is such a good topic to talk to. Keep that thing up Dr.!