Counseling Tips continued from page 8
Become a Superstar
Time Commitment : ongoing Cost : free
The best predictor of success in private practice is a steady referral stream . Your goal is to have your local community think of your name when they think of mental health . You can start this process before opening your practice as a sort of “ coming attractions ” teaser .
Let everyone you meet know that you are a therapist . Hand out business cards by the truckload . If you don ’ t have a business phone number yet , just include your web address ( see below ) and email address on the card . Join clubs and service organizations where you ’ ll mention frequently that you ’ re a therapist . Tell your doctor , your hairdresser , your minister , and your fitness coach about your profession — and give them your business cards to hand out .
Ask local organizations if they need a speaker for their meetings ( they always do ). Present on a common mental health topic , such as stress , depression , or parenting skills . Remember that the product you ’ re promoting is you : Be pleasant , professional , empathetic , and invite questions .
Scrub Your Social Media Squeaky Clean
Time Commitment : 1 hour Cost : free
A new client will almost certainly investigate you online . Search for your name to see what they will see . Ditch those pictures from that wild vacation depicting you with a half-empty pint of rum . Ditto the political commentary , the posts about your relationship life , and … just about everything else .
Become a mystery within social media , so they ’ ll have to rely on your professional website to glean anything about your character and reputation .
Get Trapped in the Web
Time Commitment : 5 hours Cost : fees vary
Your best return on advertising investment is a warm , professional , welldesigned practice website . You can set this up even before you ’ re ready to accept clients . Initially , just share your thoughts on mental health .
To keep costs down , you can design one on your own . Most web-hosting services will supply you with the tools needed . But , as soon as possible , hire a professional web designer . They will consider Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ), a process of fine-tuning your website so that Google will display it near the top of search results .
Make sure your site is as attractive on a phone as it is on a computer . Also , run the warm , thoughtful , inviting , positive text you write for your website through a grammar checker ; even a single error will be a turnoff . Add blog posts to your site on a variety of mental health topics . Topics found in professional publications can be a starting point , providing basic information that you ’ ll personalize with your own thoughts .
Get Reduced to a Number
Time Commitment : 2 hours Cost : free
If you are on the introverted end of the spectrum , you grew pale when reading the “ Become a Superstar ” section above . The alternative way to acquire a steady stream of referrals is to become a “ preferred provider ” for an insurance company . You ’ ll have to accept reduced rates , but this negative is offset by the steady stream of new clients they ’ ll send your way .
You can ’ t file insurance claims without an NPI ( National Provider Identifier ), a 10-digit number that tells insurance companies that you ’ re a bona fide , licensed mental health professional . That is your
“ Type 1 ” NPI ; you can also apply for a “ Type 2 ” NPI that gives the same credibility to your new business entity . Click here for more on applying for an NPI .
C ’ mon , Just Try It Once
Time Commitment : 1 hour Cost : you get money
Getting an insurance company to accept you as one of their preferred providers is not an easy process . For example , some companies require two years of experience in private practice before considering your application . The clock starts when you see your first client . Do that ASAP , even if it ’ s just one telehealth client .
Confront the Demonic CAQH Form
Time Commitment : 6 hours Cost : free
If you ever intend to apply for preferred provider status with an insurance company , you ’ ll need to fill out a universal credentialing application form called CAQH . I won ’ t soft-pedal this : It is a very long form asking for extensive information about your training and experience .
Do this sooner rather than later since , for example , it ’ s easier to obtain letters of recommendation from former supervisors while you still know their whereabouts . Start the CAQH online here . Once completed , you can permit multiple insurance companies to access this information .
Go for It !
The steps above are some of the most important ones . The work is worth it ; starting my first practice was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life . I ’ ve made much more information available for free online in these formats : a downloadable book , a series of videos , and a series of podcasts . Good luck ! The Advocate Magazine 2025 , Issue # 1 American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) www . amhca . org 99