Thanks to everyone that joined me for the free teleseminar today on "Building Your Online Therapist Profile."
Or try this link to listen using Itunes.
Download the handouts (PDF form) here.
Building Your Online Therapist Profile
Thanks to everyone that joined me for the free teleseminar today on "Building Your Online Therapist Profile."
Or try this link to listen using Itunes.
Download the handouts (PDF form) here.
Therapist Profile
Are you a therapist in private practice who could use a couple of new clients? Does your appointment book have a few holes?
Click here to download the HANDOUT for the the "Building Your Online Therapist Profile" teleseminar.
If that version of the handout didn't work, try this PDF version.
Want to check and see if your vanity URL is available? Click on the 1&1 banner below and search for the domain you're interested in registering.
Or click here: http://www.tinyurl.com/netherapist
Purchase the "The Therapy Directory Sign-Up Kit." For just $49, you'll receive:
If you don't want to purchase the Sign-Up Kit online, you can fax or mail your credit card information to us and we will e-mail you the Sign-Up Kit as an Adobe Acrobat PDF.
Download the order form here.
Ready to write your own profile, and don't need the URL or consulting assistance? Sign up for your free 90-day trial of The Therapy Directory here.
For more information on developing your brand:
And
Click here to download the HANDOUT for the the "Building Your Online Therapist Profile" teleseminar.
If that version of the handout didn't work, try this PDF version.
Want to check and see if your vanity URL is available? Click on the 1&1 banner below and search for the domain you're interested in registering.
Or click here: http://www.tinyurl.com/netherapist
Purchase the "The Therapy Directory Sign-Up Kit." For just $49, you'll receive:
- A sign-up kit to receive your free 90-day trial to The Therapy Directory.
- One-year registration of a vanity URL to re-direct to your Therapy Directory profile.
- 15-minute consultation to review your Therapy Directory narrative.
If you don't want to purchase the Sign-Up Kit online, you can fax or mail your credit card information to us and we will e-mail you the Sign-Up Kit as an Adobe Acrobat PDF.
Download the order form here.
Ready to write your own profile, and don't need the URL or consulting assistance? Sign up for your free 90-day trial of The Therapy Directory here.
For more information on developing your brand:
And
Building Your Online Identity
One topic I'm hearing a lot about from therapists is how they can build their online identity.
When you Google yourself, what do you find?
I will be offering a teleseminar on this topic on Friday, Dec. 18 from 2-3 p.m. CST.
Register online for free for "Building Your Online Therapist Profile."
In the meantime, step one to building your online identity is to register a domain name (URL) in your name. It's called a "vanity URL."
Suggestions:
Click here to look and see if the URL you want is available.
Or click on this banner:
When you Google yourself, what do you find?
I will be offering a teleseminar on this topic on Friday, Dec. 18 from 2-3 p.m. CST.
Register online for free for "Building Your Online Therapist Profile."
In the meantime, step one to building your online identity is to register a domain name (URL) in your name. It's called a "vanity URL."
Suggestions:
- The first one you should try to register is your name: i.e., www.MindyBrown.com
- If that's not available, add "therapy" or "therapist" to your name: www.MindyBrownTherapist.com
- If you don't like that -- make it geographic specific: www.MindyBrownOmaha.com
- If you're known for a particular specialty, you can use that as your URL: www.infertility-omaha.com
Click here to look and see if the URL you want is available.
Or click on this banner:
Media Training Tips -- Part II
These tips were provided courtesy of Margaret Bumann, in her "Media Training 101 for Mental Health Professionals" training workshop in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.
Read Part I for information on Interview Preparation.
Broadcast Interview Tips
- Contact Margaret Bumann at (402) 618-6313 or e-mail margaret.bumann(at)cox.net for more information about upcoming media trainings or to schedule a media training workshop for your group, association, or organization.
Read Part I for information on Interview Preparation.
Broadcast Interview Tips
- Practice speaking in short sentences; television sound-bites are only 7-10 seconds long, on average.
- Avoid jargon; use language that everyone understands.
- Use colorful, descriptive words and analogies; it makes what you say more interesting.
- Rehearse your main point; out loud, in front of a mirror.
- Repeat your message several times during an interview. Review the main point you typed or wrote out, then practice saying it several different ways prior to the interview.
- Good posture projects confidence; sit up straight, square your shoulders.
- Sit still; don't rock your chair.
- Don't cross your arms; it can make you look defensive.
- Look the interviewer in the eye.
- Relax, be gracious, smile!
- Wear clothes that project the image you want them to. If you're speaking as a professional, wear professional clothing.
- Even if you think the camera has stopped rolling, don't say anything you wouldn't say in public.
- Contact Margaret Bumann at (402) 618-6313 or e-mail margaret.bumann(at)cox.net for more information about upcoming media trainings or to schedule a media training workshop for your group, association, or organization.
Media Training Tips -- Part I
These tips were provided courtesy of Margaret Bumann, in her "Media Training 101 for Mental Health Professionals" training workshop in Omaha on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009.
Interview Preparation
Tips to help you feel confident and comfortable during media interviews.
- Know what you're being interviewed for. Be sure to ask the reporter what the story is about and what information they want to get from you. Once you have this information...
- Craft your message. Be able to state it briefly and succinctly in one or two sentences. Some people find it valuable to write or type out the main point they want to get across during the interview.
- Stay on message. Sometimes the reporter gets sidetracked and the story changes dramatically. If you feel this happening, and you have a stake in getting a specific message out...
- Reel the interview back to its original focus. It's okay to say, "The point I want to make is..." or "I don't understand why that's important to this interview."
- Take charge. If the interviewer fails to address something you feel is important to the story, raise the issue yourself.
- Contact Margaret Bumann at (402) 618-6313 or e-mail margaret.bumann(at)cox.net for more information about upcoming media trainings or to schedule a media training workshop for your group, association, or organization.
Spring 2009 Therapist Fee Survey Results
From May 18 to June 14, 2009, APPT conducted a survey on therapist fees. The survey received 31 responses. The responses were fairly similar to the 2008 survey results (reported in the Fall 2008 issue of The Compass). Comparisons to 2008 results were included, where applicable.
Thirty percent of therapists responding have been practicing for 1-5 years; 17% for 6-10 years; 17% for 11-15 years; 10% for 16-20 years; and another 16% for more than 20 years.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents spend 31-40 hours in their practice each week.
Number of hours (on average) therapists report seeing clients and performing administrative work):
Fewer than 10......................3%
11 to 20 hours......................10%
21 to 30 hours......................17%
31 to 40 hours......................37%
41 to 50 hours......................33%
More than 50 hours..............0%
Compared to 2008 figures, therapists are working longer hours than they were in Fall 2008.
The majority of therapists who completed the survey are masters-degreed therapists — 87% practice as a LIMHP, LMHP, LICSW, LCSW, LMFT, LADC, etc. Ten percent have a Ph.D. but practice as a LMHP. No psychologists or psychiatrists responded to the Spring 2009 survey.
Groups of all sizes were represented in the survey:
• 40% of respondents reported they have a solo practice.
• 7% are in a group with 1-3 other therapists.
• 23% practice with 4-6 other therapists.
• 23% are in a group with 7-10 other therapists.
• 3% practice with more than 10 other therapists.
More than half of respondents practice independently, renting an office space (53%). Another 23% share office space with a practice group but share expenses and have an ownership role. Thirteen percent simply rent space from a practice group.
Therapists continue to rely heavily on insurance and managed care for practice income. Sixty-three percent of respondents report that less than 10% of their practice is private pay. Approximately one-third of therapists report that less than a quarter of their practice income is from private pay.
When asked to compare practice income to 2008 figures, therapists reported:
No charge in income..................20%
Decrease of 1-25%.....................47%
Increase of 1-25%......................23%
Increase of 25-50%...................10%
Top factors cited in a therapist’s INCREASE in income:
• Seeing more clients than previous year.
• More referrals (becoming better known)
• “Being more selective with clients I work with — keeping the cases that I can really do a good job with, and referring ones that others could excel with — results in client satisfaction and their continuing in therapy.”
• Raised fees.
• Doing more private pay work versus insurance/managed care.
For therapists who cited a DECREASE in income, factors included:
• “The economy affecting client’s ability to pay or seek out mental health services or pay their deductible or copay.”
• Managed care reducing fees and insurance reimbursements decreasing.
• “Saw fewer clients due to increase in time required to do paperwork for Medicaid/Magellan.” Another therapist also mentioned a reduction in profitability, due to “increased costs to ‘manage’ managed care.”
• Loss of state contract.
• Private pay clients not paying.
• Clients losing insurance benefits or changing insurance carriers.
• Fewer new clients to replace those who have completed therapy.
With declining reimbursements squeezing therapist pay (and profits!) therapists are implementing systems to reduce their receivables. One noted, “I collect co-pays and deductibles via credit card so I carry no balances anymore.”
Survey respondents reported an average fee of $106.13 for an individual session. Fees ranged from $90 to $150, with $100 as the most-cited fee (26%). Compared to 2008, the average fee dropped $1.21 (from $107.34 to $106.13), although the most-cited fee in 2008 was $95. Due to the small sample size, the drop in average fee could be accounted for by the lack of psychologists and psychiatrists responding to the survey, since their average fee is higher.
Anecdotally, it appears that several therapists may have raised their rates between Summer 2008 and Spring 2009, accounting for the increase in the “most-cited” fee.
When asked the highest fee they are paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session, the average was $98.00 (or 92% of the “standard” fee). This is right in line with last year’s results, where the highest fee paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session was 91% of the average “standard” fee.
The lowest fee paid by an insurance or managed care company was $20, with $60 as the most often-cited “lowest” fee, followed closely by $40. In 2008, $60 was also the most-often-cited lowest fee paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session.
When it comes to couples/family sessions, the average “standard” fee is $121.72, with a low of $90 and a high of $175. The average fee is a small increase from 2008, when the standard fee was $119.02. Most responses (59%) ranged from $100-$120.
The response for the highest fee reimbursed by managed care companies for couples and family sessions ranged from 65 to $143.91, with an average of $104.71 (86% of the standard fee, the same as 2008 figures).
The lowest managed care fee for a couple of family session was $59.45 on average, with the lowest reimbursement ranging from $27 to $110.
One therapist who was frustrated by managed care companies reducing their reimbursement rates noted, “My plumber, housekeeper, mechanic, HVAC guy, and gardener make more an hour now than I do.”
Thirty percent of therapists responding have been practicing for 1-5 years; 17% for 6-10 years; 17% for 11-15 years; 10% for 16-20 years; and another 16% for more than 20 years.
Thirty-seven percent of respondents spend 31-40 hours in their practice each week.
Number of hours (on average) therapists report seeing clients and performing administrative work):
Fewer than 10......................3%
11 to 20 hours......................10%
21 to 30 hours......................17%
31 to 40 hours......................37%
41 to 50 hours......................33%
More than 50 hours..............0%
Compared to 2008 figures, therapists are working longer hours than they were in Fall 2008.
The majority of therapists who completed the survey are masters-degreed therapists — 87% practice as a LIMHP, LMHP, LICSW, LCSW, LMFT, LADC, etc. Ten percent have a Ph.D. but practice as a LMHP. No psychologists or psychiatrists responded to the Spring 2009 survey.
Groups of all sizes were represented in the survey:
• 40% of respondents reported they have a solo practice.
• 7% are in a group with 1-3 other therapists.
• 23% practice with 4-6 other therapists.
• 23% are in a group with 7-10 other therapists.
• 3% practice with more than 10 other therapists.
More than half of respondents practice independently, renting an office space (53%). Another 23% share office space with a practice group but share expenses and have an ownership role. Thirteen percent simply rent space from a practice group.
Therapists continue to rely heavily on insurance and managed care for practice income. Sixty-three percent of respondents report that less than 10% of their practice is private pay. Approximately one-third of therapists report that less than a quarter of their practice income is from private pay.
When asked to compare practice income to 2008 figures, therapists reported:
No charge in income..................20%
Decrease of 1-25%.....................47%
Increase of 1-25%......................23%
Increase of 25-50%...................10%
Top factors cited in a therapist’s INCREASE in income:
• Seeing more clients than previous year.
• More referrals (becoming better known)
• “Being more selective with clients I work with — keeping the cases that I can really do a good job with, and referring ones that others could excel with — results in client satisfaction and their continuing in therapy.”
• Raised fees.
• Doing more private pay work versus insurance/managed care.
For therapists who cited a DECREASE in income, factors included:
• “The economy affecting client’s ability to pay or seek out mental health services or pay their deductible or copay.”
• Managed care reducing fees and insurance reimbursements decreasing.
• “Saw fewer clients due to increase in time required to do paperwork for Medicaid/Magellan.” Another therapist also mentioned a reduction in profitability, due to “increased costs to ‘manage’ managed care.”
• Loss of state contract.
• Private pay clients not paying.
• Clients losing insurance benefits or changing insurance carriers.
• Fewer new clients to replace those who have completed therapy.
With declining reimbursements squeezing therapist pay (and profits!) therapists are implementing systems to reduce their receivables. One noted, “I collect co-pays and deductibles via credit card so I carry no balances anymore.”
Survey respondents reported an average fee of $106.13 for an individual session. Fees ranged from $90 to $150, with $100 as the most-cited fee (26%). Compared to 2008, the average fee dropped $1.21 (from $107.34 to $106.13), although the most-cited fee in 2008 was $95. Due to the small sample size, the drop in average fee could be accounted for by the lack of psychologists and psychiatrists responding to the survey, since their average fee is higher.
Anecdotally, it appears that several therapists may have raised their rates between Summer 2008 and Spring 2009, accounting for the increase in the “most-cited” fee.
When asked the highest fee they are paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session, the average was $98.00 (or 92% of the “standard” fee). This is right in line with last year’s results, where the highest fee paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session was 91% of the average “standard” fee.
The lowest fee paid by an insurance or managed care company was $20, with $60 as the most often-cited “lowest” fee, followed closely by $40. In 2008, $60 was also the most-often-cited lowest fee paid by an insurance or managed care company for an individual session.
When it comes to couples/family sessions, the average “standard” fee is $121.72, with a low of $90 and a high of $175. The average fee is a small increase from 2008, when the standard fee was $119.02. Most responses (59%) ranged from $100-$120.
The response for the highest fee reimbursed by managed care companies for couples and family sessions ranged from 65 to $143.91, with an average of $104.71 (86% of the standard fee, the same as 2008 figures).
The lowest managed care fee for a couple of family session was $59.45 on average, with the lowest reimbursement ranging from $27 to $110.
One therapist who was frustrated by managed care companies reducing their reimbursement rates noted, “My plumber, housekeeper, mechanic, HVAC guy, and gardener make more an hour now than I do.”
Are You Media Ready?
In a few weeks, APPT will be co-sponsoring a "Media Training 101" workshop for mental health professionals. There are many reasons why therapists should be media trained. Among them are:
Here are some tips to help you be more media savvy:
- To promote the profession and the practice of mental health therapy.
- To be able to speak to the media clearly in the event of a mental health-related crisis.
- To generate attention for mental health-related issues, including mental health coverage and parity concerns.
- To increase awareness of specific areas of practice (for example, eating disorders, or depression).
Here are some tips to help you be more media savvy:
- DO monitor the media to keep abreast of news being printed or broadcast about issues affecting the mental health community (public funding for mental health services, community-based treatment, consumer advocates and their impact on mental health services, "Safe Haven" legislation, etc.) and the mental health industry as a whole.
- DO NOT be overly aggressive in seeking media coverage. Do not demand that a reporter cover your story. Instead, be courteous and respectful when dealing with media contacts and expect some disappointments along the way.
Marketing Your Practice Online and Offline
As promised, here are the notes from my presentation on "Marketing Your Practice Online and Offline," at the APPT Fall Conference "Back to Basics" on Nov. 7.
People do business with people they know, like, and trust.
Tell people what you do -- over and over again. And get your message to the same people over and over again -- because consistency creates familiarity.
Be sure you track how you are getting clients. Ask them how they heard about you.
In Ellie Fields' presentation in the morning, she mentioned that you can be a generalist, but should have something to hang your hat on -- something you are known for.
There is a five-step process to cultivate your brand identity.
You do NOT need a website, but you should have an online presence.
Call other practices (mystery shop) -- block your caller ID. Pretend to be a client seeking therapy services. Look at their websites. Google other therapists. Google yourself!
There is still a lot of value in printed pieces. Not all clients are technologically savvy -- nor are all therapists. Printed brochures are still very much widely used! And on-demand technology (print-on-demand, or color copying) lets you print as few or as many as you need.
DO put your website address (your domain name) on everything.
Do make sure your business card is a mini-brochure.
Free Samples - Business Cards, Return Address Labels, Rubber Stamp and Many More!
Your business identity is vital to creating your brand identity. A professionally designed logo will help you build visibility and credibility.
If you are thinking about going out on your own, get a dedicated business cell phone, domain name, and associated e-mail address. Then you can create your business card.
I'll share more marketing tips from my presentation in a future blog post!
- There is no secret formula or magic bullet to filling your private practice - the key to success is to select a few simple, effective tactics and do them consistently.
- These should be things that you are comfortable doing: newsletters, talks/workshops, writing articles, networking, articles, etc.
- In order to build your private practice, you need to cultivate relationships -- with prospective clients, new clients, referral sources, and influential individuals (this can be members of the media, insurance company representatives, and affiliates).
People do business with people they know, like, and trust.
Tell people what you do -- over and over again. And get your message to the same people over and over again -- because consistency creates familiarity.
Be sure you track how you are getting clients. Ask them how they heard about you.
In Ellie Fields' presentation in the morning, she mentioned that you can be a generalist, but should have something to hang your hat on -- something you are known for.
There is a five-step process to cultivate your brand identity.
You do NOT need a website, but you should have an online presence.
Call other practices (mystery shop) -- block your caller ID. Pretend to be a client seeking therapy services. Look at their websites. Google other therapists. Google yourself!
There is still a lot of value in printed pieces. Not all clients are technologically savvy -- nor are all therapists. Printed brochures are still very much widely used! And on-demand technology (print-on-demand, or color copying) lets you print as few or as many as you need.
DO put your website address (your domain name) on everything.
Do make sure your business card is a mini-brochure.
Free Samples - Business Cards, Return Address Labels, Rubber Stamp and Many More!
Your business identity is vital to creating your brand identity. A professionally designed logo will help you build visibility and credibility.
If you are thinking about going out on your own, get a dedicated business cell phone, domain name, and associated e-mail address. Then you can create your business card.
I'll share more marketing tips from my presentation in a future blog post!
Your Website
I probably get more questions about websites than about any other tactic for marketing your private practice. Therapists often ask me, "Do I need a website?" My answer is: "No."
Should you have an online presence? Yes ... but it doesn't have to be a website. You can have a simple profile online, contribute to online forums, write a blog ... even use Google's AdWords service to market yourself.
And even if you DO have a website, it doesn't have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as one page (although I recommend 3-5 pages, including sections for your Bio, Services, Articles/Resources, and Contact Information).
An easy way to get started is a paid profile service, like that offered by Psychology Today. For just $29.95 a month, you'll have your own web page online, and Psychology Today's The Therapy Directory service also promotes you online on major search engines and health websites. Watch the demo on their site to see how to set up your profile. (Use this link to receive a free listing for 90 days!)
Once your profile is online, register your own domain name, and "point" it to your profile.
Check if your domain is available, and register it now!
The cost of developing a "standard" private practice website can be as little as $400-$600. Contact us for more details.
Should you have an online presence? Yes ... but it doesn't have to be a website. You can have a simple profile online, contribute to online forums, write a blog ... even use Google's AdWords service to market yourself.
And even if you DO have a website, it doesn't have to be elaborate. It can be as simple as one page (although I recommend 3-5 pages, including sections for your Bio, Services, Articles/Resources, and Contact Information).
An easy way to get started is a paid profile service, like that offered by Psychology Today. For just $29.95 a month, you'll have your own web page online, and Psychology Today's The Therapy Directory service also promotes you online on major search engines and health websites. Watch the demo on their site to see how to set up your profile. (Use this link to receive a free listing for 90 days!)
Once your profile is online, register your own domain name, and "point" it to your profile.
Check if your domain is available, and register it now!
The cost of developing a "standard" private practice website can be as little as $400-$600. Contact us for more details.
Marketing Shouldn't Be Painful!
I often talk to therapists who are uncomfortable with marketing because they think they have to do things that they don't WANT to do in order to successfully market their practice.
That's not the case at all! There are so many marketing strategies out there that it is possible to pick a couple that won't cause you any anxiety at all. If you don't like public speaking, don't select "Giving workshops and seminars" as your marketing strategy of choice. (Instead, write articles or do a newsletter or send e-mails.)
If you're not tech-savvy, don't focus on e-newsletters and your website. There are plenty of ways to get the word out about yourself in the "offline" world. You can give talks or workshops, network, or use traditional publicity (radio, television, newspapers).
That's not the case at all! There are so many marketing strategies out there that it is possible to pick a couple that won't cause you any anxiety at all. If you don't like public speaking, don't select "Giving workshops and seminars" as your marketing strategy of choice. (Instead, write articles or do a newsletter or send e-mails.)
If you're not tech-savvy, don't focus on e-newsletters and your website. There are plenty of ways to get the word out about yourself in the "offline" world. You can give talks or workshops, network, or use traditional publicity (radio, television, newspapers).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)