Description
Private mental health practice is a vibrant, thriving, and financially rewarding profession. And yet many who consider pursuing this path are misled by falsehoods, or myths, about private practice that can result in costly mistakes - or avoidance of this fulfilling and worthwhile career path. There is no need to market my practice, clients will find me. I learned everything I need to know about private practice in graduate school. I don't need an attorney or a CPA. Self-care is for students. But there is, you didn't, you do, and no, it most certainly is not.In If You Build It They Will Come, Jeffrey Barnett and Jeffrey Zimmerman dismantle many common misconceptions (myths) relating to the preparation, management, and ethics of entering and running a successful private practice in the mental health professions. Grouped into thematic sections, misconceptions are addressed briefly and succinctly. In addition to sharing accurate information to refute each myth, the book provides vital information on how to be successful in private practice. The authors identify common pitfalls and challenges, offering specific and practical strategies to address and move beyond the myth. Each chapter concludes with recommended resources and readings. Blending decades of clinical experience with practical no-nonsense advice about running a practice, If You Build It They Will Come helps fill the gaps in practice development training. Trainees and recent graduates of programs in clinical psychology, social work, and counseling will benefit from this book's personal, candid, and optimistic approach.
Table of Contents
Section I: Preparing for Private PracticeChapter 1: In Graduate School, I Learned What I Need to Know About Running a Successful PracticeChapter 2: Becoming Licensed Means That I am Now CompetentChapter 3: If I "Sell Out" to the Business of Practice, I Give Up my Core Value of Altruism."Chapter 4: Being Known as a Generalist Will Position my Practice Well in the CommunityChapter 5: Managed Care is Evil and Should be Avoided like the Plague; Experienced and Competent Clinicians Don't Participate in Managed CareChapter 6: Insurance Companies Just Care About Profits and I Care About My Patients, So It is Okay to Bend the Rules to Get PaidChapter 8: If You Build It, They Will Never ComeChapter 9: A Fee for Service Practice Cannot SurviveChapter 10: Keeping Clients in Treatment as Long as Possible is an Effective Practice Building StrategyChapter 11: Video Conferencing and Tele-Mental Health Technologies are Easy Ways to Build My PracticeSection III: Managing Your PracticeThere Is No Need to Waste My Hard-Earned Money on Consultants, Attorneys, and CPAsChapter 13: At this Stage of My Career Paying for Supervision or Consultation is Just RidiculousThere is No Need to Have a Budget or Business PlanChapter 15: If I Treat My Staff Well, They Will Take Care of Me and Look Out for My Best InterestsChapter 16: I'm the Boss. Who Needs Policies and Procedures?Chapter 17: It is Best to Have a Policy About Cancelled and Missed Appointments, and to Enforce It ConsistentlyChapter 18: Continuing Education Requirements are Unnecessary and are not Relevant to My Professional CompetenceChapter 19: All You Need to Do to Close Your Practice is to Stop Seeing Clients and Lock the DoorChapter 20: There is No Need to Save for Retirement - I Can Sell My Practice When I am Ready to RetireSection IV: Documentation and Record KeepingChapter 21: Documentation and Record Keeping are Burdens to be Done with as Quickly as Possible: The Less Said, the BetterChapter 22: It is Best to Provide Minimal Information When a Referral Source Requests Information about a ClientChapter 23: If I Receive a Subpoena I Should Turn Over the Client's Records Immediately, or be Prepared for Serious Legal ConsequencesChapter 24: Client Records Should be Destroyed Once the Client Leaves Treatment or DiesSection V: Toward Ethical PracticeChapter 25: Private Practice is a Solitary Pursuit - There is no Need to Work with OthersChapter 26: As a Professional, I Don't Need to Worry About Self-Care. This is Just Some Meaningless New Age Concept That is Being Hyped by the MediaChapter 27: When I Need Clinical or Risk Management Advice I Should Ask for it on a ListservChapter 28: Being a Good Caring Person is all I Need in Order to Practice Ethically and Reduce my Risk of a Malpractice ClaimChapter 29: You are Ethically Obligated to Take Insurance, Offer a Sliding Scale Fee, or See Some People Free of Charge
