Does your specialty include working with kids and families? Have you been interested in learning more about the play therapy modality? Can you build a successful private practice from the play therapy niche?
Put together a team of skilled and like-minded clinicians, hire a proactive and dedicated admin assistant, put up a website, and let the process develop. In some ways, the process is that simple. Of course, there are some necessary fine print steps that you need to add, but you can do it too!
In this podcast episode, I chat with Kristi who started the foundations of her group private practice in the last six weeks of maternity leave! And who is now thriving as a Canadian group private practice owner.
MEET KRISTI GARRIDO
Kristi is the owner of Headstart Child and Family Therapy, a practice that specializes in meeting the mental health needs of children ages 3-18 and their families. Kristi is a certified play therapist with a focus on building healthy attachments between children and their caregivers.
Learn more about Kristi on her website, LinkedIn, and Psychology Today profiles.
In this episode:
Handling the increased need for mental health
A private practice can be a community
Be mindful of contracts
The logic behind raising your rates
Things that Kristi had to overcome
Kristi's advice for listeners
Handling the increased need for mental health support
Kristi considered her needs as well as the needs of her clients and thought about the trajectory of her career. Six weeks before she was due to go back to work after maternity leave, Kristi began considering stepping into the private practice world and building a team.
So, for those last six weeks of her maternity leave, Kristi started building the foundation of her Canadian private practice.
A private practice can be a community
Being a therapist can be incredibly tough, and often lonely, since most days it is just you and your clients, and you are the one that is holding space.
Finding a group of like-minded therapists is not only a great benefit to your network and referral system, but also – and more importantly – to your mental health and well-being.
Having a community of therapists that you can talk to, spend time with, and encourage while being encouraged will boost your performance and overall sense of peace.
Be mindful of contracts
The standard pay for therapists is impossibly low. Often the pay is not even enough to cover basic business expenses, which is why therapists must advocate for themselves.
You can work with EAPs and Community Service contracts in your Canadian private practice.
The logic behind raising your rates
If you have a waiting list, raising your rates and/or hiring other counsellors can be logical decisions for your Canadian private practice.
Raise your hourly rate, and those that can afford it will work with you, so your schedule relaxes, and others that prefer a different rate can work with your contractors. Then your contractors are full, your clients are being seen and are not waiting on a list, and then you improve your income while freeing up your schedule!
Things that Kristi had to overcome
Business owner decisions and therapist decisions are different: as a therapist running a Canadian group private practice, you will have to trade your therapist hat for the business one now and then.
Setting up a practice policy system: you need to write things down, document them, and systematize them! If you'd like some assistance with this, or you don't know where to start, check out my paperwork packet for guidance!
Connect with me:
Resources mentioned and useful links:
Ep 70: Julie Lounsbury: How a Leap of Faith Led to Success in Private Practice
Learn more about the tools and deals that I love and use for my Canadian private practice
Sign up for my free e-course on How to Start an Online Canadian Private Practice
Jane App (use code FEARLESS for one month free)
Learn more about Kristi on her private practice website, LinkedIn, and Facebook profiles.
