Therapist Thoughts

As I mentioned last month, using twitter is a great way to reach a larger audience and give a glimpse of your personal side to potential clients. It is also a great way to network with others in your field.

This month, I want to focus on some of the details.

First of all you want to create an appealing ‘home’ page. You can choose to use one of the designs that comes with your account or I recommend that you check out many of the free services out there. Here is one with tons of background options www.twitterbackgrounds.com. Choose something that fits your personallity.

One of the keys to a successful therapy practice is being congruent.

Does what you believe match with how you live, treat others (including your clients) and how you handle your life online? If they met you in person would they see you as they see you online? These are things that potential clients will pick up on. As clients become more aware of the options available to them for therapy, it is vital that you not only come across as someone who can help, but also someone who is real.

Although making money at your practice is important, I suspect it is not your driving force. For most therapists the focus is on helping others and having impact. However, for some therapists and health professionals that focus has been to the detriment of the business success of running a private practice.

So how do you find the balance between helping others while having impact and making a living?

 

If for whatever reason, you don't wish to offer therapy outside your association boundaries, just make sure you use your location in the text of your blog and tag your post with the appropriate key words. For example, if you are a therapist in Washington D.C., and your association prefers that you not offer services outside of Washington D.C., use your State in the text of your post and include phrases such as "I am a Washington D.C. based therapist offering online psychotherapy via video counseling, from my computer to yours! If you are seeking therapy in Washington D.C. please contact me to set up an initial appointment, without ever having to leave the comfort of your own home."

You could offer an explanation of your licence agreement, for the clients who wish to seek your expertise, but live outside of Washington D.C.  

 

My vacation was fantastic! The five of us (reluctantly) came home relaxed, refreshed, and ready to get back into regular life.   I have set a new goal to live and work somewhere by the ocean at least 4 or 5 months of the year by 2014.

Norm welcomes all visitors to his video blog which is connected to www.imagefacetoface.com, The Business and Education Hub for Therapists and Health Professionals.

This is your place to interact with Norm and with each other about the relevant things happening in our industry. Please feel free to ask questions, express view points and opinions and discuss the latest models, methods and discoveries in the world of counseling therapy and mental health.