by ashley.marzullo | Jun 13, 2016 | Front Page
When I’m coaching counselors on how to build successful private practices, the number one question I hear is: “Where/How will I find enough clients?” The fear of hanging out your shingle and sitting in your office waiting for the phone to ring weighs heavy on the hearts of many of the brave souls who are venturing out on their own. Once you’ve chosen a target market (or two), you can now take the biggest, and potentially the most important step in growing your business. You are now able to identify the “Gatekeepers” of your target market. Gatekeepers are those folks who have access to, and influence over your target market. They are able to send you lots of referrals; they are able to get you in front of a lot of your potential clients; or they are able to help you build your credibility in the eyes of your target market. Here are 5 steps for how to identify the Gatekeepers of YOUR target market, and utilize them when you are building your practice… Determine where your target market “hangs out”. What do they read; what websites do they visit; with what other professionals in the community do they have contact/relationships? Do some research and make a list of these people/places/sites who are the Gatekeepers Create a plan of action. Break down the list into manageable pieces. Consider how you will reach out to the people on the short list – i.e. phone, email, or snail mail. Set up a calendar of when you will reach out, and when you will follow up with each of these outreach efforts...
by ashley.marzullo | May 16, 2016 | Front Page
Selling the Couch For me, starting a private practice was nerve wracking and scary. I listened to these podcasts for the first time while I was painting my newly rented office space. Melvin’s interviews, emails, and website have helped me in numerous ways. For anyone looking to get some fresh perspectives and encouragement as a mental health counselor in general, I recommend his resources. -Weston Martin, Board...
by ashley.marzullo | May 11, 2016 | Front Page
You’ve likely got many responsibilities pulling at you each day. At times you might even feel like the hamster on a wheel, running and running and not getting anywhere. Private practice requires you to focus on: your clients and clinical work; getting more clients and referrals; billing and other administrative tasks; collaboration of care with other professionals; professional development; and so much more. How to you juggle all of that and make sure that your efforts are truly productive? Here are 5 tips to help improve your productivity: Tip 1: Make a plan and work it! Get into the habit of creating a plan (or simply a to-do list) of things you need to accomplish. Each morning, read over your plan and check in with it midday to make sure you are on track. Taking action is only thing that makes your plan more than a piece of scrap paper Tip 2: Don’t procrastinate Get the tough things done first, whenever possible. If you haven’t done so already, read the book “Eat That Frog”. It is a good lesson in eating your vegetables first. Find the time of day that is most productive for you and use it to get those big projects done. Do them first whenever possible. You may get a lot of little things done by avoiding the big thing, but don’t confuse “busy” with productive Tip 3: Don’t be afraid to say no If you want your business to thrive, you must get important things done now! There will always be someone or something asking for your time. Don’t mindlessly say yes. Think...
by ashley.marzullo | May 3, 2016 | Front Page, Uncategorized
Here’s a quick list of five things you can do to get more clients… Think of 2-3 referral sources that have clients for you, but who are not yet sending them your way. Get in front of them (somehow) — an appointment, a drop in, a phone call, an email, a flyer — whatever it takes Find out what you can do to help them with regard to mental help services. Can you provide them with a newsletter or handouts for their patients about: anxiety, depression, stress, parenting, healthy relationships, etc? Can you run an information group in their waiting room for folks who need to know more about symptom management of anxiety or depression; how about a postpartum info session? Follow through immediately with what you said you will do for them I get GREAT results by asking “What can I do for you” BEFORE I ask for referrals Identify your top 2-3 referral sources and let them know that you’ve just added some hours to your schedule and you wanted to let them know first so they are aware you can accommodate more referrals Most referral sources really appreciate you thinking about them and in a spirit of reciprocity will send you a couple of referrals as soon as they have them If you don’t already have a website — get one! If you do have a website — change it up. People aren’t going to keep coming to your website if it is the same ol’ thing every time they visit. Give them a reason to visit: Keep an active blog Place the link to your...
by ashley.marzullo | Aug 25, 2015 | Front Page, Press Release
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The American Mental Health Counselors Association (AMHCA), the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES), and the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) have jointly endorsed a plan for counselor licensure portability. This plan from leading counselor organizations establishes a regulatory platform allowing licensed counselors to move between and practice in multiple states. The AMHCA-ACES-NBCC portability plan is built on sound principles of quality assurance and national standards. The plan will promote acceptance of a license from another state when the individual holds a degree from a clinically focused counselor preparation program accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs (CACREP), holds certification as a National Certified Counselor, or meets standards adopted by the state board of counseling. Dr. Keith Mobley, president of AMHCA, states: “The AMHCA leadership commends the efforts of NBCC and ACES for collaborating on this agreement, as it demonstrates strides toward professional unification and portability of licensure. It has been the long-standing goal of AMHCA to seek consistently high standards among credentials for clinical mental health counselors so that our profession may benefit by achieving status equivalent to other practitioners in federally funded programs and gain license portability among states.” The sentiments are echoed by ACES President Dr. Tarrell Portman, who says: “the counseling profession has too long suffered from inconsistency in education and training standards. These varying requirements have hampered the growth of the profession and the ability of counselors to move across state lines. ACES is excited to be part of this strategic partnership to establish a national education and training standard for licensure portability.” “This...
by rimhca.board | Jun 1, 2015 | Front Page, Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 18, 2015 Contact: Jim Finley 800-326-2642 jfinley@amhca.org www.amhca.org Modification of TRICARE Independent Practice Standards Advanced ALEXANDRIA, Va. – On May 15, 2015 the full House approved House Armed Services Committee legislation that included a provision sought by the American Counseling Association (ACA) to modify the TRICARE August 18, 2014 rule for Certified Mental Health Counselors. Under HR. 1735, “The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016” (NDAA), the extension of full independent practitioners status for CMHCs under TRICARE would be temporarily broadened to include more practitioners from many different training programs. This new language is now part of the House version of the NDAA and will ultimately be considered by the Senate. The Senate version, S. 1118, currently does not include the House language, but they are expected to soon consider their own NDAA bill. The comprehensive annual funding bill sets the spending policy and rules for the nation’s armed forces.ACA sought the change without input from other stakeholders such as AMHCA, NBCC, CACREP, or the MFTs. Consequently, at this time these other stakeholders are unresolved about taking further action on the provision as it merely postpones the full implementation of the TRICARE 2014 rules until 2027, when the 2014 standards would be restored. As policy, it provides much more time for recent and future CMHC graduates from non-CACREP programs to participate independently under TRICARE. However, even with the delay, CMHC training programs will still need to transition quickly to CACREP to ensure graduates can participate in programs operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs and receive professional training funds administered by the Department...
