Best Practices In Starting A Private Practice

Starting a private practice gives you a chance to structure your business in the way that works best for you. Three of the faculty at Washburn University’s Social Work Department Alicia Lawrence, Lydia Diebolt and Tonya Ricklefs have their own private practices and share their recommendations for starting a business focused on counseling and mediation.

Starting a private practice requires strong business acumen and responsibility. Key areas to consider include business practices, internet presence, liability insurance, network of resources and pricing.

GOOD BUSINESS PRACTICES

Like any business, a private practice needs to consider ways to be efficient and cost effective. Using software systems and an electronic health record system can streamline business operations and record keeping.

“You will find that good record keeping is a true lifesaver,” Alicia said.

Lydia recommends sharing office space with others in a similar field, if possible, to cut back on the costs associated with running your own practice.

CREATE AN INTERNET PRESENCE

A good website will allow you to focus on highlighting your unique skills and areas of expertise. Showcase unique knowledge like working with children diagnosed with autism, military expertise, knowledge of LGTBQ+ topics, etc. People searching for your specific area of expertise will be more likely to find you when your website pops up on a Google search.

“A strong website will attract more people than referral businesses that you have to pay for,” Alicia said.

GET LIABILITY INSURANCE

Liability insurance is a must and not an area to cut costs. You can obtain liability insurance through the National Association of Social Workers or other professional organizations or private insurance groups.

FIND YOUR “PEOPLE”

Create a network of individuals who you can consult in a particularly difficult case. You can do this without breaking confidentiality. Ask them things such as, “What would you do? What am I missing?”

“I often speak to mediators and mental health professionals because they help me figure out what hat I am wearing that day and keep me in check,” said Tonya. “My group of colleagues are priceless.”

CHARGE APPROPRIATE FEES

Finally, figure out how you are billing and what you are charging. Many times, in our attempt to be accessible for everyone, we charge rates that underestimate the amount of work involved in each session. Think about the following before you start taking clients:  Do you want to accept insurance?  Do you want to charge income-based fees? If so, what does your sliding scale look like?  How much of your time will a case take?  What are your policies on payment?