Private Practice

Video Transcription

[MUSIC PLAYING] Here's what we're going to cover in this lesson. First, we're going to define what a private practice is and how it can look. Next, we're going to be discussing common myths about private practice. Now keep in mind that there are various ways to be in private practice, and your success or failure is not dependent on the success or failures of others you may know or others you may have heard of. Specific circumstances dictate the course of each person's journey. Now a successful practice happens in many ways. They are unique to each practitioner and his or her circumstances. So with that being said, let's get started.

So let's define what a private practice is. So a private practice is a self-owned mental health counseling business. Full-time work is considered 26 client hours a week or more. Part-time work is basically anything less than 26 client hours per week. Additional work is necessary outside of client hours, remember, including paperwork, phone calls, and billing. Now this averages about 15 minutes per client.

So there are many different environments and contexts in which you can start your practice. One example would be an independent practice, where you're by yourself. Next would be joining with someone and having a partner practice. Or you could create a group practice and have several partners. Another example would be joining an existing practice.

So there are a lot of common myths out there floating around about going into private practice. My goal here is to feed you some reality so that you can discern for yourself which direction is best for you to go. Myth number one, you have to do it this way. And here's the reality. There are many ways to be in private practice. This includes full time, part time, individual, partner, group, profit, nonprofit.

Myth number two, it's really not that much work. Here's the reality behind that one. Business ownership is a substantial time commitment. Typically, work hours are very significant and can be more than traditional employment.

Myth number three, no boss will be a wonderful experience. Reality, accountability is minimal, which is both a pro and con, as you are solely responsible and solely liable. Myth number four, you can't make enough money to quit your job. Here's some reality to chew on behind that one. Private practice can be financially very lucrative. Working full time can bring in a six-figure income.

Myth number five, ah, just hang out a sign, and you can get clients. Reality behind that one, it takes work and reputation to build clientele. The process can take from six months to a couple of years, depending on how hard and how much you work.

Myth number six, because you are such a good counselor, you'll get clients. And here's the reality to that one. Indeed, being a good counselor is essential to sustaining a private practice, but you will also need to have working business knowledge and expertise to run and sustain that practice. Myth number 7, it takes a lot of money to get started. And your simple reality for that one is one can get started quite cheaply with rent, phone, and internet being the most expensive things that you got. So knowing the truth behind the myths is really a big step toward determining whether private practice is right for you or not.

So here's what we covered in this lesson. First, we define what a private practice is and how it can look. Next, we discussed common myths about private practice and learned the reality behind each. Keep in mind, a successful practice happens in many ways that are unique to each practitioner and his or her circumstances.

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