Starting your psychotherapy practice? Follow these eight tips from the pros!

Congrats on deciding to start your own psychotherapy practice!

Here are a few tips to help your practice thrive:

1. Find your niche: Choose an area of practice in which you’ve felt the most rewarded and in which you feel like you can do the most good for patients. If you’re going to start your own practice, it’s important to have a passion for your work. While finding your personal niche is essential, it’s also just as important to cater your services towards a specific focus. Consider how you will capitalize on your training and experience to offer both referral sources and patients a unique and differentiated service. For example, if you have a substance abuse treatment focus, you should consider partnerships with local rehab facilities or Suboxone programs.

2. Expand your demographic: Renting space in several different cities extends the reach of your practice. As “word of mouth” spreads your reputation in these areas, clients from suburbs of these larger cities will gladly travel to your office space, even if your availability in that particular office is limited to a few days per week. You can find all types of psychotherapy offices to rent on Clineeds!

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3. Set limits and stick to them: You’re always encouraging clients to set good limits and boundaries with people in their lives. It is just as important for you to do the same in your private practice. Establish an expectation for attendance and missed appointments, and create a “contract” with the client as to what they can expect of you. If this isn’t established up front, you may find yourself dealing with no shows and missed appointments on a regular basis. This can result in resentments that tarnish the therapeutic relationship, as well as your profit margins.

4. Find a peer support team: Private practice can feel isolating at times. Psychotherapy can be exhausting and challenging work. Reach out to other providers in your region and find out if mentoring opportunities and peer groups are available. If not, don’t hesitate to start one, as others likely need this support also.

5. Make self-care a priority: Regardless of your client population or size of your caseload, engage in routine self-care. Whether you practice meditation, yoga, paint, read or sew, find ways to reconnect with what inspires you and makes you feel whole. Spend time in nature, see loved ones and remember who you are outside of your profession. If you are experiencing symptoms of compassion fatigue or burn out, listen to that and take a vacation.