Comments for The Independent Clinician

Comment on Understanding the Parents and Spouses of Our Patients by Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP

Pamela Rowe, MA, CCC-SLP — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:06:58 +0000

I remember this from grad school. I always remember it when working with families. We are working with them at a very trying time in their lives. They are not coming to us because everything is fine.

Comment on May is Better Speech and Hearing Month by Angela

Angela — Tue, 08 May 2012 20:02:03 +0000

My salary is pretty close. Neat stats!!

Comment on Linked In: A Guide For Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapists by independentclinician

independentclinician — Tue, 08 May 2012 00:12:57 +0000

Hi Rachelle!
I’m glad that you’re found LinkedIn to be helpful. I think that “connecting” through LinkedIn is a bit ambiguous. Yes, they ask that you know the person in advance but it’s a tool for connecting with professional colleagues as well.

My advice is to use it how you’re most comfortable. Part of the “connecting” process is writing a brief note. Most people are happy to connect with people who share a common field, patient interest, etc.

See you on LinkedIn!
Jena

Comment on Increasing Social Media Engagement for Your Private Therapy Practice by independentclinician

independentclinician — Mon, 07 May 2012 23:59:31 +0000

Good point JoAnn.
Most of the apps these days do request access to various types of information. If you’re not comfortable with something online, don’t do it.

Best of luck!
Jena

Comment on Increasing Social Media Engagement for Your Private Therapy Practice by JoAnn Jordan

JoAnn Jordan — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:40:57 +0000

Given that Recommend.ly wants to sign in through your personal page rather than your business page, before I sign up I’d like to know if I can set it to monitor only my business page rather than including my personal information.

Comment on Linked In: A Guide For Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapists by Rachelle Norman

Rachelle Norman — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:03:59 +0000

I’ve just rediscovered LinkedIn recently, too. I’m a music therapist working with elders and their caregivers, so many of the groups I’ve joined are multi-discipline groups of professionals and family caregivers – people who care about dementia, nursing homes, home care, etc. We recently stared a Dementia Book Club. It’s another great way to connect with other people who are interested in the same professional areas you are.

The one question I have is about when to “connect” with someone. LinkedIn seems to encourage linking only with people that you know well and have worked with. That certainly hasn’t happened with folks you’re just meeting in the LinkedIn groups. What do you think is appropriate?

Comment on Resources by Vicky

Vicky — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:44:03 +0000

Hi Jena,

Thanks for all your great info & tips!

I’m interested in Outright – do you know if this is appropriate for use in the UK?

Thanks, Vicky

Comment on Private Speech Therapy by independentclinician

independentclinician — Thu, 03 May 2012 01:19:35 +0000

Hi Lisa!

Great questions! I agree that startup fees can be a real setback in the beginning. I have always worked out of either patients homes or public (yet private) places like study rooms in libraries. I don’t recommend that people see patients out of their own homes because you’re right, your liability increases dramatically.

I have a bunch on info on contracts and policies available in The Guide to Private Patients but yes, I do recommend having a contract, having a cancellation policy, etc. It’s for your protection and your clients.

I have found treating privately to be incredibly rewarding. There is a learning curve and sometimes getting started seems slow. My best advice is always to spend some time thinking about who your ideal private clients are and then marketing your services to the people who “know” those clients, such as pediatricians, social workers, neuropsychologists, etc.

It’s also a good idea to keep a “regular” job while you’re getting started to make sure you have steady income. Lots of people think that you’re either in private practice… or you’re not. It is certainly possible to have some excellent income by seeing a few clients “on the side” while working up to being full-time – if that is what you ultimately desire.

Best of luck and please keep in touch!
Jena

Comment on Private Speech Therapy by Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 02 May 2012 21:23:15 +0000

Hi! I have been considering private practice for a long time and have worked as an independent contractor for many years. Unfortunately, I live in an “economically depressed” area and contract work is hard to come by. I don’t want to incur a lot of start-up costs or rental fees until I can get the business off the ground. Where would you recommend conducting therapy if I don’t get office space right away? (library? their home? my home – which opens up all sorts of liability). Do you recommend an initial contract of some sort outlining cancellation policies and payment etc? If so, do you write it up or are there online samples? Thanks so much!!

Comment on 6 Easy Ways To Make Your Private Clients Happy As Clams by Free CMTEs & Business Owners Opportunity | Rhythm For Good

Free CMTEs & Business Owners Opportunity | Rhythm For Good — Wed, 02 May 2012 14:23:19 +0000

[...] Honoring and respecting my clients in ways that I had never imagined before [...]