For many counselors, therapists, social workers, and psychologists, the dream of being in private practice, or even owning their own practice, seems daunting. In this four-part series of the Practice of Therapy Podcast, Gordon talks about the steps needed to make the transition from doing agency work, as a mental health clinician, to being in private practice. The series discusses: 1.) Knowing your “WHY”, 2.) Making a Plan, 3.) Setting-up an Office, and 4.) Marketing & Getting Referrals.
Check out the mini-course: “Love the Work, But Hate The Job”
In this course you will be emailed 4 lessons, one each day, that will walk you through a way to think about making the transition from agency work into private practice. (Get the discount here!)
Knowing Your “WHY”
For me, the place to always start is to ask “Why”. Why do you want to go into private practice to begin with? And why did you chose this profession to begin with?
We all have different motivations for why we do what we do. The main point is the importance of having a sense of purpose and direction in life. To be really clear for yourself the reasons behind pursuing private practice.
A good visioning exercise is to begin thinking about where you see yourself 5, 10, 20 or even 30 years? Think about what the steps would be needed to begin moving towards those goals or aspirations. Questions to ask yourself:
- What are your financial goals?
- If you were to create your ideal week, what would that look like?
- Is your motivation to go into private practice more about having more autonomy or financial?
- Why would you NOT just want to keep doing what you are doing?
- If you were to change your “attitude” about your current job, would things be any different?
- What supports could you draw on to help you reach your personal goals?
- Why are you doing what you are doing now? Is it a stepping-stone to something else or is it just because the opportunity came up?
FUN FACT: You are 40-60% more likely to reach a goal simply by writing it down…
A good way to begin to capture all of these ideas is to start journaling about those things. Maybe also create a timeline for yourself with some realistic and attainable goals.
Check out this blog post: “Why Asking WHY Matters Most”
“Follow your bliss. If you do follow your bliss, you put yourself on a kind of track that has been there all the while waiting for you, and the life you ought to be living is the one you are living…” – Joseph Campbell
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Meet Gordon Brewer, MEd, LMFT
Gordon is the person behind The Practice of Therapy Podcast & Blog.He is also President and Founder of Kingsport Counseling Associates, PLLC. He is a therapist, consultant, business mentor, trainer, and writer. PLEASE Subscribe to The Practice of Therapy Podcast on iTunes, Stitcher and Google Play. Follow us on Twitter @therapistlearn and Pinterest “Like” us on Facebook.