Business Success for Therapists

I believe that all experiences are opportunity for exploration and growth, and as a fellow therapist you are likely to believe that as well. Growth in your therapy business and the challenges encountered along the journey are all opportunities for awareness, healing, and releasing as you allow yourself the opportunity for exploration.

When you are “stuck” in growing your business (and growing yourself) you are stuck in stories and beliefs that often keep you in a place of frustration, fear, overwhelm, and worry.

Drawing upon The Work you can begin to honestly explore feeling stuck, frustrated, scared, worried, overwhelmed, etc in your business and about your income. I invite you to explore this process yourself, for your personal growth, as well as your business.

I’ve taken the Judge- Your- Neighbor Worksheet created by Byron Katie (retrieved www.thework.com) and asked the questions in relationship to business and money.

Answer the questions honestly, allow yourself to feel and express your responses, without censorship or judgment.

1. How does your business (or money) anger, confuse, sadden, or disappoint you, and why? What is it about your business (or money) that you don’t like?

2. How do you want your business (or money) to change? What do you want from your business (or money)?

3. What is it that you business (or money) should or shouldn’t do? What advice could you offer your business (or money)?

4. What does your business (or money) need to do in order for you to be happy?

5. What do you think of your business (or money)?

6. What is it that you don’t want to experience from your business (or money) again?

Take the time and go through these questions and write out your responses. Do this initially asking questions about your business, then on a separate piece of paper respond to the questions about money. After you write out your uncensored responses there are four key questions you will need to ask.

What does it mean for you to stand in your power?

Stop and truly think about that. Are there certain things you are a stand for no matter what? Is there something that you are so deeply committed to that you have unwavering faith regardless of the circumstances?

Does it mean that you lovingly speak your truth, even if it’s not what others want to hear? Is it respecting yourself and your needs enough that you set boundaries with those you care about? Does it mean you’ll speak up and act when things are out of alignment with your integrity? Does it mean no matter what the outside circumstances are suggesting, internally you know this to be your truth?

Standing in my power for me means upholding the beliefs of what’s possible for myself and others, knowing we all embody resources to reach our divine potential. I also know when I’m out of alignment I am in other people’s business, these are times when I default into believing I can change something or someone, or I become responsive and reactive to other people or circumstances. It’s typically these red flags that warn me I’m not standing in my own power.

So how does standing in your own power impact your clients, as well as your therapy business? Want to help your clients and your business flourish by standing in your power.

When you hold your clients as powerful, you hold the potential of what’s possible for them. You create a safe space that allows for reflection, growth, and transformation. So how can you hold yourself as powerful, respect your boundaries, and model this to your clients. Here are some strategies to help you stand in your power.

1. Allow yourself and your clients be in the gap of the unknown-

It’s often when we are in a place of transition and uncertainty that there is a possibility for tremendous growth and transformation. By being in the discomfort of the unknown without a quick desire to react, fix, stuff, eat, or self-medicate/numb, you’ll create a space to explore new possibilities.

This also occurs in business, in the space where you are longing to create something new, and fearful of the unknown. In this transitional space allow yourself the opportunity to explore the possibilities in your business, even the ones that feel out of reach and daunting to you. It’s often these visions of your business that feel improbable, is where the greatest opportunity for growth exists.

When you stand in your power in the gap, in your own personal life, as a witness to your client’s struggles, as well as your own business goals, you allow evolution of what’s next along the journey, and often this shows up in ways beyond your imagination.

2. Be clear with your boundaries-

I believe that much of the struggle we encounter in our lives comes from our relationships. Typically, we desire someone to act or be a certain way, and when they do not, we struggle with how we perceive this to impact our lives. You can empower yourself, your clients, and your business with clear boundaries. This may mean setting respectful boundaries with those you love, providing clients with clear boundaries in regards to dual relationships or hours you see clients, or utilizing boundaries in your business by reinforcing no-show policies with clients.

When you stand in your power by asserting clear boundaries you model self-respect and positive communication. When you set boundaries in your business, you not only model this to your clients, you also respect and honor your business (which in essence is your time and commitment to helping others).  In addition, you’ll feel less stress because when a problem arises you’ll be able to address in an empowered way.

3. Community-

There have been numerous studies from Durkheim to Bowlby on the influence of social relationships on development, health, and wellbeing. When you connect with others you are impacted on the macro-social to psychobiological levels. Yet, often working in private practice there is a sense of isolation and perhaps a physical disconnect from other colleagues.

So how can you empower yourself by developing peer connection and support?  Look for where you can connect with other therapists and colleagues to receive peer supervision, network, or just blow off some steam. When you have social supports your work with your clients will feel more fulfilling. In turn, as you grow you therapy business you’ll have the feedback and insight from others, saving you time, money and headaches.

4. Grow, Learn, Explore, Play-

When you learn new information or experience something new often the by-product is a renewed sense of energy, excitement, and rejuvenation. We use parts of our bodies and brain in a different and novel way, stimulating new responses and allowing for new perceptions. It’s in the place of exploration, learning, and play, that we expand ourselves, often allowing for new insights and awareness.

How can you empower yourself by learning something new to help you personally grow in new directions? Are there interests you’d like to explore that will invigorate yourself, and help you to show up to work with your clients with renewed energy? What’s something new you can introduce to your clients to help them express themselves in a new way. Can you introduce a new modality to deepen your client’s awareness?

Your learning and exploring not only impact your and your client’s development, it also impacts your business. When you learn something new you feel a renewed energy in your business and you show up in a different, more empowered way. Of course, this is cyclical and impacts your clients and your personal life too!

If you are looking for community connection and to grow, learn, explore, and play, I invite you to join me and 10 other expert speakers at the 1st Annual International Creative Art Therapies Teleconference during the week of August 23-27, 2010.

Imagine attending a conference where you could have access to leading edge creative arts therapists practicing across the globe, without having to leave the comfort of your own home!

Over five days, you will learn from luminaries in the field of art therapies and expressive arts, new techniques and tools to revitalize your practice and bring new knowledge and energy to your clinical work.

The daunting cost of attending a conference, travel costs, taking time off from work, and leaving family often just doesn’t fit into our schedules or budgets. Here’s a way to access affordable, innovative learning through the ease of a teleconference!

You can view more details and register here: http://icatconference.com/

I know that many therapists I talk with have such keen clinical skills. They have invested countless hours and dollars on continuing education, personal therapy, and professional development. Every investment in your personal and professional growth is reflected in your work with your clients. As you expand your awareness of your own issues, and the latest trends and research in the field, you show up to work with your clients in a more empowered way.

Here’s an interesting discovery, one that you may want to explore yourself- the use of marketing to connect and empower your clients.

Okay, so you may think that marketing materials, such as your website copy and your brochures, are just marketing information. Rather dull, yet necessary, to hand-out to those who may be interested in your services.

Honestly, I too thought that way in the past. I know may other therapists who really don’t give much thought to their marketing copy.

Perhaps it feels incongruent, or you’re not that excited about writing, or you believe you’re not a good writer, or it’s not what ‘makes your heart sing”, or you’re afraid the grammar police will give you a citation!

Well, I want to share with you something transformative I discovered, and my Platinum client have also noticed the same thing too, that writing powerful copy for your marketing materials actually impacts your potential clients.

Yes, really!

There is something about reading a brochure or a website that speaks to you. Have you ever had that happen? I have a few newsletters I subscribe to and when I get the newsletters in my email box I feel like they are speaking to my soul. They get me, they understand me, they are speaking to me.  There is this exhale, like I’m among others who understand, and that’s such a comforting feeling.

Now imagine conveying that to your potential clients. You get them, you deeply understand them, they are not alone- how truly comforting.

Your clients are seeking that, and actually aren’t we all seeking that? Aren’t we all desiring to be deeply understood? So your writing is much more than writing. It truly is a beacon of light for your clients, letting them know you are there for them,  that you understand, and you’re there to help.

I want to share with you a few strategies that will help your write authentically, so your clients feel like you are writing to them. It’s a humbling and inspiring experience to have your clients and potential clients say to you, “I feel like you were writing to me” or  “finally I’ve found someone who really gets me”.

So here are some practical strategies to deeply connect with your clients through your writing:

1. Know your client- what they feel and think

Spend some time thinking about who they are, what they value, what they think and feel about the problem they are encountering, and how it is impacting their lives. You can use visualization or art marking process to deepen your awareness of your client’s needs.

2. Write that you understand their pain

Take a moment before you begin writing to focus on your client’s problem and the pain it has brought them and how it’s impacted their relationships. Feel what it would feel like to encounter these problems and allow this to resonate with you. When you write allow yourself to convey in your writing that you understand their pain and how it has impacted them.

3. Write how things can be different

You’ve witnessed the healing process and you know what’s possible for your clients when they release their pain and patterns that no longer serve them.  You’ve seen what’s possible from other client’s healing and from your own experiences. When you write your marketing materials come from a place of possibilities and hope. Write how things can be different based upon the changes you have witnessed. Remember to be respectful of your client’s confidentiality and not to write about specific clients.

4. Be of service

Your clients want to know you get them and you can help them too. When you come from a place of service it’s about helping them with their problems. When your write your marketing copy don’t forget to let your potential clients know what’s the next step they can take to start the change process. Be crystal clear and make it easy. Having a system in place will make this simple for you, as well as your clients.

When your clients feel this understood they show up differently to therapy sessions. Often you’ll see your clients make dramatic changes because they feel understood and respected.  So every time you write an article or post on your blog, think of your client and how you can be of service to them.

Try these tips in your writing and note your comments on the blog!

What’s a money mindset, you may be asking? Your money mindset is the beliefs you have around money and making money. Therapists and money often don’t mix. For some reason there is a paradigm that therapists would do what we love for little money or offer our services for free. We are in the helping profession and those who come to us for healing are in pain and are seeking relief. This is no more, or no less, than a medical doctor who sees a patient in pain, seeking help. Most doctors charge you a fee for your services and most don’t offer a sliding scale based upon need; yet many therapists offer sliding fees and scholarships (I’ve been guilty of this as well).

So your money mindset impacts your practice by keeping you stuck in making relatively the same amount each year, continuing to undervalue your services, and giving much too much to your clients. Also, if you have limiting money beliefs you’ll continue to work with managed care, spending your precious time and energy in completing paperwork and waiting in hold on the phone, and when you are finally reimbursed you see a faction of the income you deserve.

My big question for you is how can you ask your clients to see the value in the transformation you offer when you are not willing to uphold the value of your own services?

So here are some questions to help you shift your mindset around money and uncover the value you bring to your clients, so you can finally change what you are worth, and get it

1. If I were the highest paid expert in ___________(describe your niche here) what would my fees be?

This question offers you a pause to reflect on what it would be like to be an expert in your area of specialization and what you would charge. Start to look at others who are positioned as the highest paid professionals in your niche and explore what they are making. I’m guessing they don’t accept managed care and they don’t undervalue their services.

2. How do you respect your money and yourself?

What does your checking account look like, is it balanced, do you pay your bills on time, if you have credit cards do you pay over the minimum amount each month, do you put money aside and pay yourself each month? If you are not doing these things, then you are not honoring yourself and your relationship with money; and tisk-tisk if you offer a sliding scale or pro-bono services if you aren’t managing your own money first. It’s actually a rather passive co-dependent behavior if you are taking care of your client’s money needs while ignoring your own. So take a deeper look at how you are respecting money. Then take one action to respect and value your money, and when you clean up you money drama and start to respect money more will come to you.

3. Set your bold money goal by asking yourself, as the leader of my therapy business making $ _________ (insert money you desire to create) how do I handle this situation?

You can use this mantra when you are making business decisions, which includes your marketing, the clients you choose to work with, your response to managed care, practice building programs you invest in and how you mange your time, etc.

When you start to value your time and see yourself as the leader of a successful therapy practice this not only impacts your money mindset, it also influences your clients as well. You show up in a very different way, holding your client accountable and acknowledging the power of their decisions and commitment to change. Try these exercises and note your comments on the blog!