Private Practice Starting Kit

 

Dates for 2020 workshops soon to be announced.

 

Being a good therapist doesn’t guarantee success in running your own private practice as it requires specific business skills and knowledge.

 

This workshop is designed to fully equip therapists who are building a private practice from scratch. It covers all essential areas as well as some important aspects of PP that are often overlooked. We provide a clear and detailed map for a quick and confident start with our step-by-step guide to setting-up your practice. We share proven methods established therapists have, themselves, found to be valuable and insightful in the process of getting up and running. 

 

The participants will receive ready-to-use forms, instructions and practical tools packaged up and ready to use right away. 

 

The main goal of this workshop is to demystify the whole setting-up process and save you weeks or months of research. We aim to make it a fear-free and inspiring journey that will help you create a career offering a unique combination of ‘flexibility, autonomy and sense of purpose’*. 

 

Areas covered: 

 

CHOOSING A VENUE 

  • PP types (private office, shared, block booking, Pay As You Go, home). Pros and cons, how to find, legal etc.
  • Important aspects of working from home (setting up, safety, assessments, confidentiality limits, legal aspects).

 

LEGAL 

  • What type of business to choose (Sole Trader, Limited Company, CIC, Charity). Pros and cons.
  • Registering your company. 
  • Registering for self-assessment.
  • Business account vs. private account. Types of banking system that work well with PP. 
  • Insurance. What to look for. 
  • GDPR. 
  • ICO registration.

 

ADMINISTRATION

  • Caseload in PP. What to be aware of as a PP therapist. 
  • Managing enquiries. Appointment booking systems, online booking systems, cons and pros.  
  • Managing cancellations. Real life examples. 
  • Contract in PP. When to discuss, what to include. Privacy statement. How to talk about GDPR. Confidentiality and records keeping policy, open or limited contract. Change of contractual agreement. 
  • Filing system. Notes writing. Notes keeping. Electronic record keeping (encryption, online services)
  • Managing confidentiality.
  • Other records keeping (supervision, CPD, clinical hour log)
  • Professional will. What it is and why it’s important to have it (template will be provided). Basic professional will vs advanced. 

 

BASIC FINANCE 

  • Financial bookkeeping in PP. Requirements for self-employed therapist.
  • Basic financial planning. Ethical finance system. The basis of financial goals, how many clients to have, fee, low cost counselling offer, dealing with clients paying different fees, ethical and practical aspects of increasing the fee. 
  • Expenses in PP.
  • Payment methods. Card services overview. 
  • Basic accounting for self-employed therapists. Useful apps. 
  • Tax and self-assessment.  

 

BASIC MARKETING 

  • How to attract clients 
  • URL and domain
  • Website buildersoverview, pros and cons
  • LOGO, content writing, extras (video, pictures, free tools, links) 
  • Preparing your profile for counselling directories
  • Your ‘public image’ and its role in marketing 
  • Counselling directories overview. Most effective directories and useful tips. 

 

PP SUPPORT AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • CPD requirements, free CPD resources.
  • Resources for private practice support and further development. Overview of existing offers. 

 

 

* Sally Brown, (published in Therapy Today, 2018)

 

 

Email info@privatepracticegroup.co.uk to register your interest for upcoming workshops in 2020.