Written by Dr. Sandra Cortina, Ph.D.
If you're anything like me, it's often easier to dole out recommendations for work-life balance and self-care than to actually follow those recommendations yourself. Practicing what we preach takes awareness, effort, and foresight. Whether you're juggling home and work commitments or like me, looking to accommodate the demands of a recent disability, the following strategies are valuable in building a balanced private practice from the get-go:
1. Go electronic. There are so many ways to ensure your practice is paperless: from cloud-based therapy note software systems to electronic billing and accounting software. Simple Practice and Go Daddy Bookkeeping are two tools that are multi-tasking and user friendly, allowing you to save time in record keeping.
2. Research local fee structures. Understanding the fee structure of other practitioners in your area allows you to set the best, comparable fees for your services. Once you've done that (and using your handy electronic book-keeping software), you can calculate the average number of clients needed each week/month to meet your practice costs. The goal is to develop a full-fee practice that maximizes financial revenue with the least amount of clients.
3. Use self-disclosure purposefully. As a pediatric psychologist, I've found mentioning my disability and journey in the health care world to be a source of rapport (and referrals) with the teens, young adults, and families I see. I'm strategic about my social media posts involving the same too. For example, summer brings lots of travel so I blogged tips for how to make travel easier with a chronic health condition. Find your balance "issue" and consider using that as a focus for marketing. The more you keep your balance needs in mind, the more likely you will be to do something about them.
4. Build in time for self-care. Everything we tell our clients is true; self-care takes time and practice so schedule it. I keep 1 day per week free for my own doctor appointments, the gym, catching up on notes, etc. This means that I work most evenings but the schedule works well for my family. Find your best schedule balance and protect it.
5. Find support. Consider mentors in the form of other local practitioners, on-line private practice consultants ( like ShrinkSync and Zynnyme) and even other sole proprietors in complementary fields. Apply the business (and people) principles that transcend geography and profession to your practice.
By focusing on your personal as well as financial needs from the inception of your private practice, you have the opportunity to weave self-care and work-life balance into every aspect of your business.
This post is brought to you by ShrinkSync Member, Dr. Sandra Cortina. Dr. Cortina is a pediatric psychologist with nearly a decade of experience working with children, teens, young adults and families. Her practice in Cincinnati, OH has successfully empowered clients to find hope again. Learn more about her practice here: Hyde Park Child & Family Therapy
We welcome guest bloggers who want to write about practice-building or different treatment modalities. Submit your entries to support@shrinksync.com
If you're anything like me, it's often easier to dole out recommendations for work-life balance and self-care than to actually follow those recommendations yourself. Practicing what we preach takes awareness, effort, and foresight. Whether you're juggling home and work commitments or like me, looking to accommodate the demands of a recent disability, the following strategies are valuable in building a balanced private practice from the get-go:
1. Go electronic. There are so many ways to ensure your practice is paperless: from cloud-based therapy note software systems to electronic billing and accounting software. Simple Practice and Go Daddy Bookkeeping are two tools that are multi-tasking and user friendly, allowing you to save time in record keeping.
2. Research local fee structures. Understanding the fee structure of other practitioners in your area allows you to set the best, comparable fees for your services. Once you've done that (and using your handy electronic book-keeping software), you can calculate the average number of clients needed each week/month to meet your practice costs. The goal is to develop a full-fee practice that maximizes financial revenue with the least amount of clients.
3. Use self-disclosure purposefully. As a pediatric psychologist, I've found mentioning my disability and journey in the health care world to be a source of rapport (and referrals) with the teens, young adults, and families I see. I'm strategic about my social media posts involving the same too. For example, summer brings lots of travel so I blogged tips for how to make travel easier with a chronic health condition. Find your balance "issue" and consider using that as a focus for marketing. The more you keep your balance needs in mind, the more likely you will be to do something about them.
4. Build in time for self-care. Everything we tell our clients is true; self-care takes time and practice so schedule it. I keep 1 day per week free for my own doctor appointments, the gym, catching up on notes, etc. This means that I work most evenings but the schedule works well for my family. Find your best schedule balance and protect it.
5. Find support. Consider mentors in the form of other local practitioners, on-line private practice consultants ( like ShrinkSync and Zynnyme) and even other sole proprietors in complementary fields. Apply the business (and people) principles that transcend geography and profession to your practice.
By focusing on your personal as well as financial needs from the inception of your private practice, you have the opportunity to weave self-care and work-life balance into every aspect of your business.
This post is brought to you by ShrinkSync Member, Dr. Sandra Cortina. Dr. Cortina is a pediatric psychologist with nearly a decade of experience working with children, teens, young adults and families. Her practice in Cincinnati, OH has successfully empowered clients to find hope again. Learn more about her practice here: Hyde Park Child & Family Therapy
We welcome guest bloggers who want to write about practice-building or different treatment modalities. Submit your entries to support@shrinksync.com