What does it take to build and maintain a private mental health practice? Terrie Browning, LPC, DCC, CFC was among the first to respond to my request for therapists to track their activities for a day to shed light on what it takes to be in private practice. Friday, the day she uses for last minute crisis appointments, online counseling appointments, website meetings, phone consults, and runs errands, was the day she chose to track her activities.
Terrie provides in person, and online counseling, in addition to providing court testimony as part of her private practice, Alternative Therapies. Terrie is a Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Forensic Consultant, Distance Credentialed Counselor, and holds a Masters Degree in Science of Psychology, with specialization in Counseling Psychology.
To learn more about Terrie's practice visit her website TerrieBrowning.com.
A Day In The Life
Novemember 18, 2011 Friday
7am-8am
Woke with my partner. Made coffee and tea and had a conversation about home, bills, tonight’s activities.
8:00-9:00AM
Started some laundry and checked emails for both my private practice and my website. Noted a return email from a potential new therapist for my live consultation website confirming our 11am phone consult. Email my accountant regarding chat system payouts and reporting options for experts.
9:00-9:15AM
Call from client, appointment for marriage counseling. Discuss options and insurance.
9:15-10:00AM
Answered emails to LinkedIn professionals offering a wide range of services, mostly media opportunities for the website (radio, press releases, etc.). Received an email from the editor at MyMetroYou magazine where I write a monthly column, My Healthy Mind. Deadline for January series was early this month, due Monday. Yikes, I haven’t even started it yet! January starts the first of a three part series on “What Makes Love Work”. I make a mental note to complete outline this afternoon.
10:00-10:30AM
Change beds and clean up house before leaving my phone consult.
10:45-11:00AM
Phone call from client whose husband had brain surgery. Anger issues and needed some assistance with conflict resolution.
11:00-11:45AM
Phone consult with expert from CA. A fellow therapist asking about ethical issues with online counseling. I share information I received during my Distance Credentialed Counselor certification I received last year from ReadyMinds in Chicago.
11:45AM-12:25PM
Consult with a close relative about difficult situation of living in a new place and trying to find employment and the stress it is taking on her relationship, feeling of loneliness, frustration and diminished self-worth.
12:25-1:00PM
Skype with my social networking company representing my website.
1:00-1:50PM
Online counseling with return client.
2:00-2:45PM
Work out at gym.
2:45-3:30PM
Meet attorney with whom I work with on alcohol evaluations. Get a call from client with need to come in for crisis appt. Agree to meet in 1/2hr.
4:00-4:45PM
Meet with client in the office.
4:45-5:30PM
Paperwork in office. Billing, faxing to alcohol testing lab for results, rehab for dates for clients alcohol evaluation. Phoned the parent of client admitted to emergency psychiatric ward with suicide attempt. Doing well. Whew, on my mind for last 24 hours. Talk about after care and outpatient services.
5:30-6:00PM
Return calls for appointments for following week. Phone consult with parent; minor child is going to court against his father for psychiatric evaluation and ending parenting time.
6:00-7:00PM
Return home to shower.
7:00-7:30PM
Talk with daughter who wants to transfer universities (her junior year).
7:30-9:30PM
Dinner with best friends for birthday celebration.
10:00-11:30PM
Return home and talk with partner, watch TV, go to bed.
Thank you Terrie, for letting us peek into a day in your life as a private practice therapist!
As healers, we genuinely like to do our work. Guiding clients through the therapy process and seeing them make progress is why we do what we do. But if you're in private practice, you know there's a lot going on in the back end and that it's crucial to run an efficient and organized business.