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Can I Feature Your Private Practice? Content Creation Opportunities on Toolbox

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Talk to thousands about your practice by submitting content for Private Practice Toolbox.

I've written a lot about the importance of content creation in building a professional online presence, creating value for website visitors and social media followers, and establishing yourself as an expert in your specialty area.

Incoming links to your practice website boost SEO, boost traffic, and establish credibility. It's always better to create content for larger websites. Well, here's your chance to shine. I want to feature you on THIS blog in 2013! Here are 4 ways you can be featured:

1) Pitch a guest blog 

I'm always looking for guest posts from qualified individuals from a variety of fields who can share insights about how to run, manage, market, and thrive in private practice. I recently started working on my PhD and I'm not able to blog as often as I used to. I'm open to posts from professionals outside the mental health field as well. Attorneys, accountants, SEO experts, marketing, website design, interior design...If your expertise can help private mental health practitioners build successful businesses, pitch away!

2) Be featured in my"Adventures in Private Practice" series

Answer the following questions and submit them with a photo, a brief summary of your practice and a link to your website here.

  • Tell me a little about your practice…
  • Why did you decide to open a private practice?
  • Clients that therapists find to be the most “difficult” are sometimes the ones who can teach them the most. What have you learned from your toughest clients?
  • What’s your biggest pet peeve about private practice?
  • How did you discover or develop your practice “niche”?
  • What resource (book, website, person) helped you the most when setting up your private practice?
  • What has surprised you most about being in private practice?
  • Has your private practice helped you grow professionally? How so…
  • Has it helped you grow personally, too? How so…
  • Being a therapist can be emotionally exhausting. What do you do to care for your own emotional and psychological health?
  • How do you cope with the inevitable stressors involved with being your own boss?
  • What personal strengths have helped you succeed in private practice?

3) Be Featured in a "A Day In The Life" Series 

How do private practitioners spend their time? What does it take to create a thriving practice? Track your private practice activities for one day. Submit a word doc, photo, practice summary, and link to your practice here.

4) Be feature in my "Virtual Office Tour" series

Submit a video tour of your office space and I'll feature it on this blog! Submit you information here. Peek inside other therapist's offices.

Other ways to connect with private practice resources:

Join the Private Practice Toolbox Facebook Group

Join the Twitter conversation using hashtag #practicetoolbox (I'm @julie_hanks)

Join the 2013 Therapist Blog Challenge for help creating regular content on your private practice website.

Creative Commons License Martin Fisch via Compfight

 

Therapist Roll Call: Join Private Practice Toolbox Facebook Group

Call it group therapy for therapists. Connect with other like-mined therapists in my closed Facebook group and share resources, ideas, practice building tools, successes and failures. Must be a licensed mental health therapist or therapist in training be added to the group.

Click here and request to join the Private Practice Toolbox Facebook group

  • If you're not familiar with Facebook groups, you'll have to join as your personal profile. Unfortunately, at this point you can't participate as your Facebook practice page.
  • Your posts in the group will not show up in your other Facebook friend's newsfeeds, even though it may show up on your feed.
  • As you get to know other therapists in the Facebook group it's OK to be selective in who you add as a "friend" to your personal profile. There's no pressure to add anyone in the group as a "friend" on your personal profile.
  • My goal in creating the group is to have a fun and supportive forum to share ideas with each other in a more dynamic way than just through blog comments.
  • I'll post articles from this Private Practice Toolbox blog in the Facebook group so we can discuss them. Feel free to post helpful practice building resources that you find with the group, too.

I'm looking forward to talking with you! So, what are you waiting for?

See you in the Private Practice Toolbox Facebook Group

Therapist Roll Call: Join The Private Practice Facebook List

Thanks for your fantastic response to my roll call for private practice therapist using Twitter! Therapists from all around the globe have joined the list. I'll will continue to add therapists to the list so feel free to join anytime by commenting on that post.

I wanted to do the same thing for Facebook Business pages to help you connect to other like-mined therapists to share resources, ideas, practice building tools, and referrals. Only licensed mental health therapists will be listed.

Here's what you need to do to join the Facebook List...

Post a comment below and include the following information:

  1. Facebook page name &  page link (Facebook business page, not personal profile)
  2. your name & credential
  3. your city & state
  4. specialty areas

As the comments come in I’ll post comments and paste your info in the body of this post below to make it easy to click through and "like" the Facebook pages listed.  I look forward to connecting with you. Feel free to forward to colleagues.

Therapist Facebook Page List

Wasatch Family Therapy & Julie Hanks LCSW, Julie Hanks, LCSW, Salt Lake City, UT, women’s mental emotional health, emotionally focused couples therapy, family and parenting, private practice consulting, media contributor

Timeless Solutions Counseling Services ,Tiffany C. Huggins, MEd,NCC,LPC, Charlotte, NC, Specializing in loss and grief issues, Depression, Stress/Anxiety and Life Transitions for children, adults, and older adults.

Drops Of Change , Jo-Anne Mac Millan BA Hons., MA, Limerick City, Republic of Ireland, Humanistic & Integrative Psychotherapist

Maplewood Counseling New Jersey, Debra Feinberg, LCSW, Maplewood, NJ, Anxiety or Fears, Relationships, Parenting, Gay and Lesbian Issues, Multicultural Counseling

A Peaceful Balance, Jennifer Bois-Slattery, LCMHC, MLADC, ICAADC, Nashua, NH, trauma, gender identity counseling, substance abuse, adolescent issues, clinical supervision

Synchronicity Counseling & Wellness, Boise, ID, Kama Hiner, LPC, Nichole Jordan, LCPC, Denae Barowsky, LPC, Marci Danielson, LAMFT, Kristine Kirsch, LPC, Arlene Winkle, LMSW, We are a small group private practive with 6 counselors working with children through adults, anxiety, depression, trauma, custody, LGBT, parenting, EMDR, Sexual issues

Kim Wright LCSW, Kim Wright, LCSW LGBTQQI-friendly, eclectic approach, mostly works from a Cognitive Behavioral / Solution-Focused, aged 15+, who seek treatment to recover from Anxiety, Depression, Sexuality issues/disorders, Psychosis, and Relational/Couples therapy

Soul Tenders, Wendy Bencosme, PhD, Maureen Leigh, MFT, Carol Bennett, MFT, Brandon Guin, MFT, Jan Salvay, MFT, Arcadia, CA, Divorce & Support Group, Anxiety, Grief/Loss, Depression, EMDR, Somatic, Sexual Abuse, Trauma, Parenting, Domestic Violence, Anger Management, Dreams Group, Teens, Couples/Marital Therapy

Pam Dyson, MA, LPC, RPT, St. Louis, MO, Parent coaching, play therapy for children 3-12 years of age

Bruce Nystrom, PhD, Wichita Kansas, specializing in psychological assessment (clinical, forensic, employment, disability, medical) along with stress management, habit control (smoking, weight control, medication compliance), and sex offender treatment

Birmingham Counseling for Women and Girls, Sara Levitsky, LMSW, Birmingham, MI, women and girls of all ages, depression, anxiety, self esteem issues, relationship problems, school/peer issues, parenting support

Cathy Hanville, LCSW, Albany, CA, Trauma, PTSD, EMDR, anxiety, depression, and gender identity

Julie Fanning LCSW, West Dundee, IL, anxiety, mood disorder, early adults and midlife

Carrie Christiansen, LPC, Lenexa, KS, young adults and adolescents with concerns such as depression, anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and relationship issues

Kelli Hyland, M.D., Salt Lake City, Utah, Whole-person, individualized, collaborative approach to medication management (& psychotherapy) for adults with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD.

Segal Psychotherapy, LLC, MA, LAMFT, GLBTQ Friendly Therapist helping couples and individuals recover from infidelity, sex and porn addiction, and sexual abuse and sexual trauma.

Julie Jeske, MS, NCC – registered intern working toward my LPC,  Portland, OR, individual, couples and groups, sexuality, intimacy and relationships, women's Live Your Best Life Group

Jason A. Tompkins, LCSW, Tampa, Florida, survivors of suicide, couples, teenagers, Support Group for Adults with Asperger's Syndrome

Integrity Psych Heidi McKenzie, Psy.D, Monroeville, PA, clinical psychologist, anxiety disorders with adults

Miranda Palmer, LMFT, Modesto, CA,  Trauma Therapist doing specialty work with EMDR and other trauma treatment strategies

Lisa J. Johnson, LMFT, Albuquerque, NM, relationships, all forms of families; married, cohabitating, single parent, or blended families,  parents and friends of lesbians and gays and gay parents

Kelly Higdon, MFT, Laguna Hills, CA, women in divorce, anger issues, twenty and thirty something issues

Deborah Owens, Philadelphia, PA, adults and couples, specializing in marriage and couples counseling, anxiety, and recovery

AKCCOnline J. Kip Matthews, PhD, Athens, GA, Consulting, Mind-Body Health, Diversity Issues, Continuing Education Programming, Psycho-Educational Workshops, and College Student Mental Health

Joel D. Carnazzo, Psy.D., Chicago, IL, Substance Abuse, Depression, Anxiety, CBT, Motivational Interviewing

Good Medicine Healing Community, Kimberly O. Sieber, Ph.D., PLLC, Salt Lake City, UT, evidence-based psychological interventions and scientifically-validated spiritual practices aimed at facilitating mental, physical, and spiritual health, and treating chronic pain, medical and neurological conditions, anxiety, depression, bipolar, PTSD, and other stress-related illnesses

Terry Moore, LICSW Omaha, NE, hypnosis in psychotherapy, advanced training and experience in the behavior therapy to treat OCD

AZ Body-Mind Counseling Art Matthews, MA LPC, Mesa, Gilbert, Chandler, AZ, Stress, Anxiety, Panic, Depression, Grief/Loss, Divorce/Uncoupling Recovery, GLBT population

Seasons of Healing Counseling Services Cary Collins, MEd., LPC, Charlotte, NC, life transitions and those experiencing pain (physical/emotional/spiritual) find balance and well-being in mind/body/spirit.I also facilitate groups in SoulCollage(R)

Lucia Cassar Psychologist/Psychoanalist, teenagers, adults and elderly

A Peaceful Life Counseling Services Kat Mindenhall, LCSW, Lakewood, Colorado, cognitive Behavioral, solution focused, and mindfulness therapy for depression/anxiety, parenting, families and couples

Shari Cohn, LCSW, CSAT Madison, Wisconsin, Sex Therapy; Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity; Internet Porn & Cybersex Addiction; Partners, Spouses, Families of Sex Addicts; Survivors of Abuse, Assault, Trauma; PTSD; EMDR; Sexual Difficulties of Abuse, Trauma Survivors; Depression; Anxiety; Individual, Couples, Marriage Counseling

Jodie Gale MA Psychotherapy Northern Beaches, Sydney, Australia, eating disorders, addiction, infertility and alternative parenting paths, life crisis, relationships, anxiety and depression

Fran DiDomenicis, Ph.D. at East Bay Counseling Walnut Creek, CA, Mindfulness Based treatment for Depression, Anxiety, Addictions, and Chronic Pain; Marriage and Relationship Counseling

Jennifer Bois-Slattery, LCMHC,MLADC, ICAADC Nashua, NH, USA: Specialties, trauma, gender identity counseling, substance abuse, adolescent issues, clinical supervision

Dr. Ranjan Patel  brief-term counseling for rapid symptom reduction, and longer-term psychotherapy for deeper exploration, tailor-made treatment for your unique needs, specialties include: anxiety; depression; chronic pain/illness; mindfulness training, relationship issues–in individual and/or couples

Sharon Martin, LCSW San Jose, CA: specialize in mood disorders, anxiety, substance abuse, grief & loss, infertility & pregnancy loss, CBT

Tammy Fletcher, M.A., LMFT San Diego, CA: Medical issues: chronic pain/illness, new diagnosis, disability. Couples therapy, individual and family therapy, depression, anxiety, trauma. Fluent in American Sign Language – deaf and hard of hearing clients welcome

Melissa Wright, MA, LPC, RPT, Kansas City, MO Northland:  children ages 3 and up as well as adults and families who need services due to trauma, life transitions and mental health needs

Demyan Rossouw Cape Town, South Africa: Cognitive Behavioural Coaching & Facilitation, Gen-Y Coaching & Mentoring HIV Coaching, Creativity Coaching

Tanya L. Hilber, PsyD San Diego, CA: middle-age transitions for women and children with trauma, individual issues with a practical, psychodynamic approach that includes finding balance in life

DragonMuse Coaching & Facilitation Demyan Rossouw, Cape Town – South Africa: Cognitive Behavioural Coaching & Facilitation, Gen-Y Coaching & Mentoring, HIV Coaching, Creativity Coaching.

Metis Counseling Kansas City, MO Northland: Work with children ages 3 and up as well as adults and families who need services due to trauma, life transitions and mental health needs.

Rinske Goettsch MA, MBACP Counsellor, I see adults, elderly and couples for short and long term therapy. I specialise in relationship issues in a humanistic and creative way.

The Online Counselling Service Faith Moyo, Accredited Psychological Therapist, 24 Hour Online and Telephone Therapy. Access the worldwide service 7 days a week via secure Email, Instant Chat, VoIP, Webcam and Telephone.

Child's Play Services Andalusia, Alabama: Registered Play Therapist and National Certified Counselor. I specialize in child, adolescent, and family issues.

Erika T. Kendrick, LPC Montclair, NJ: specialize in depression, grief & loss, and domestic violence.

Regina Bright MS, LMHC Mary Esther, Florida: Individual, group, and family therapy for children and adults, developmental and emotional problems including depression, anxiety, stress, as well as unresolved issues resulting from childhood, delinquent and “at risk” adolescents and their families

Child, Parent & Family Institute Nitika T. Bey MSW, LSW, Pennsylvania and New York: Long Term and Short Term Solutions Focused Counseling (STSF)

Mind & Body Journal with Karen Gorrin Karen Gorrin, MA, LMHC Olive Tree Healing Arts Bellevue, Washington: Helping busy professionals find ease and wellbeing. Integrative Psychotherapy, Corporate Wellness, Mind and Body Workshops and Retreats.

Tracy Tucker, LCSW Arlington Heights, IL: My mission is to empower clients and assist them in achieving their personal goals for a healthy, successful life.

Ed Santana, MA, Psychotherapist, Toronto, Ontario: Psychotherapy, Counselling, and Therapy for Individuals and Couples.

Life Designs of Miami by Roberta Gallagher South Miami, Florida: My major focus is working with couples in crises due to betrayal i.e. infidelity: emotional, physical, online, phone.

Kate Elrod MS, LPC-S Austin, TX: Adults, Depression, Anxiety, Self Esteem, Past Abuse/Trauma, Life Transitions.

(Your info will go here...this list is ongoing to add your comment any time. Please summarize your services in one sentence instead of posting a comprehensive list. Thanks!)

Why Social Media Matters to Therapists

viciada.com #soudessasYou're in the mental health field because you want to make a difference and make a living, right? Technology and new media now allow therapists to educate and interact with worldwide audience and to talk directly to ideal clients...for free. Take a look at these recent statistics from the top social media sites:

  1. There are 750 million active users (Facebook.com)
  2. 200 million Tweets go out daily on Twitter (Twitter.com)
  3. Over 400 billion YouTube videos videos are viewed each day (YouTube.com)

Of the 750 million Facebook users, half log into the site daily. This is great news for therapists in private practice because you now have access to thousands of your ideal clients. Can they find you? Do you have a Facebook "Page" for your therapy practice? (I'll be posting soon about the difference between a Facebook profile and a page). It's a great way to share resources, articles, and provide information about your practice and the issues that matter to you and your clients.

How about Twitter or YouTube? Can your ideal clients find you there? Are you tweeting about your specialty areas or your services? Do you have a video introducing yourself and your practice on YouTube? Think about it. Your potential clients are on the internet looking for mental health information and services. If you're feeling overwhelmed by these suggestions, never fear! I'll be walking you through effective and efficient ways to use social media sites to build your practice as the weeks go on. Keep in mind that social media sites are additional forums for building referral sources and networking, a place to talk with people.

So, why are so many therapists reluctant to embrace social media? Fears regarding breaches of confidentiality and the potential dual relationships are common concerns, however, there are ways to set up social media accounts so you're not mixing personal and professional information and relationships. In upcoming posts I'll suggest ways to utilize social media in an ethical way that helps you do a better job at educating on topics you're passionate about and using it in a way that builds your private practice.

Do you have questions, concerns, or fears about using social media to build your therapy practice? I'd love to discuss them so please post comments below.

Creative Commons License photo credit: :: nany mata.