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Welcome! Today’s guest is Dr. Traci Lowenthal, who is a licensed Clinical Psychologist, and the owner of Creative Insights Counseling. Traci has many years’ experience in private practice and is here to share her insights. Join us!
Traci’s favorite quote is from Yoda—yes, Yoda!
“Do or do not. There is no ‘try.’” Traci uses this quote as motivation for reaching goals as a small business owner. Her advice is to plan and move toward your goals.
Traci discusses the following about her journey into private practice:
- Early on, in graduate school, Traci knew she wanted to work part-time, raise her family, be her own boss, and have a flexible schedule.
- She figured out the locations and setting in which she wanted to work.
- She emailed every practitioner in the city asking for an office to rent.
- She listed her practice in Psychology Today.
- She went to a local university counseling center, introduced herself, and asked to be on their referral list.
- The relationships she established became her biggest source of referrals.
- She was successful in building her practice by building relationships with small steps, and by being flexible with her basic vision.
- Traci was blessed with good fortune and determination, and she started getting calls and referrals right away.
- Traci discusses the specifics of her billing practices for out-of-network patients.
Traci identifies a common mistake that new private practitioners often make: they think they have to take every client. Fear and anxiety of NOT building your practice will cause you to step outside your field of practice and feel pressured to take every client.
Traci’s advice to other Private Practitioners?
- Build relationships.
- Identify your ideal client.
- Meet people face to face when possible.
Traci faces off with the Hot Couch Round questions, about her consistent daily habit, her favorite online resources, and her best advice to someone just starting out in private practice. She says if she were starting over establishing her practice, she would do things exactly the same as she did!
Links and Resources:
www.creativeinsightscounseling.com (Traci’s website)
Find her practice on Facebook and Twitter. Email her at drtraci@creativeinsightscounseling.com.
Or call her at 909-240-7833.