How To Transform Your Private Practice

There is no shortage of private practice “gurus” who will teach you the latest “secret” marketing “strategy” or “trick”??Have you noticed??But is that what a successful private practice is all about? Marketing? Based on the 40 years I’ve enjoyed the practice of my dreams; I don’t think so.?My “secret” is, and always has been, transforming myself so that I can help transform others.?That’s what this article is about.

What Is Most Important Clinical Question?

Do you “cure” or “transform” your clients??Clearly most of our profession believes that therapists diagnose their clients and cure them of their symptoms.?A minority of therapists believe that their clients seek transformation, that they want to become the best possible version of themselves.?In my judgment, these therapists are two things: correct and successful!

Making the transition from “curing” to “transforming” requires a personal transformation that causes a therapist to become confident, charismatic, and fearless.?The first step in this process is to understand the psychology of the therapist-client relationship.

The Therapeutic Relationship

We are all familiar with “transference,” “countertransference,” “reaction formation,” and a bushel-basket of theory and jargon that describes the therapeutic relationship, but have we missed the main and most important point??Have we failed to recognize and focus on the emotional dynamics of a person who presents themselves to a therapist suffering from emotional pain?

Clients are fearful, insecure, confused, and brave.?On some level they believe in themselves and have enough courage to envision a transition to a better life.?They look to us for courage, security, direction, and safety.?It is our job to project these dynamics to our potential clients, not as some marketing gimmick, but rather, as a result of the transformational work that we have done on ourselves to be on the top of our game.?Clients seek out private practitioners because they want the best that the profession has to offer.?It is our job to not disappoint them.

Overcoming Fear

???????????In my roles as a supervisor and mentor, I have consistently noticed the recurring fears that therapists have.?The therapeutic relationship is a very intimate relationship.?After all, our clients become vulnerable by revealing the secrets of their soul.?They have faith in our ability to handle this intimacy and engage them on this level.?Therapists often retreat to the safety of “professionalism” and “objectivity” in order to avoid honesty, candor, commitment, and vulnerability.?Therapist must take courage and give their clients what they came to them for.?Themselves.

Therapists are not vessels of knowledge that impart wisdom and information.?Your clients can get that from YouTube. Therapists are a substitute for the real world where clients can engage in a relationship that is safe and where they can learn how to relate in a functional and fulfilling way.?Show me a client that is able to maintain appropriate and functional relationships and I’ll show you a client who doesn’t need therapy!?It’s all about the relationship.

Above all, therapists must be comfortable in their own skin and able to relate to their clients appropriately and effectively on an intimate level.?All therapists have fears.?It is our responsibility to identify them and seek appropriate guidance in becoming courageous in the face of fear.

Becoming Charismatic

I have had the good fortune of working with some of the best therapists and there is one thing they all share.?They are charismatic.?Charisma is defined as having compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. Does that mean that therapist need to be movie stars??Of course not, but it does mean that they need to inspire the devotion of others.?

Think about it, when we are vulnerable, when we are suffering, when we have a problem that we cannot handle ourselves, who do we look for??We look for someone who can solve our problem and inspire us to believe in them.?This is true whether we are searching for a surgeon or a plumber. And that is what your clients are looking for.

?Charisma is not narcissism; it is an attitude.?Being a therapist is a high and honorable calling.?It is an awesome responsibility, and often, you will employ more than your training.?You will use gifts you were born with.?It is your job to grow into the role you’ve been given.?To walk with a straight spine.?To smile at the ironies of life. ?And to develop that twinkle in your eye that others can use to gain confidence and courage!?There is no one-size-fits-all path to charisma.?It is not a destination.?It is a journey.

Putting the Horse Before the Cart

While there should be no doubt that marketing a private practice is very important, it is the cart and not the horse.?The most important consideration is not marketing, but rather, the product.

People can get psychotherapy anywhere.?This is particularly true with the advent of telehealth.?But consider this, they can only get you from one place; and its your job to “attract” them rather “sell” them.?Ironically, this attraction is the core of any effective marketing campaign.

As you transform yourself into a confident, charismatic, and fearless therapist your practice will take off and your dreams will come true.?I’ve seen it happen and it’s a beautiful thing!