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Before starting the business you should acquire
professional qualification. A master’s degree in counseling or psychology is
very important. State governments only issue licenses to qualified
practitioners.
Councilors that attend to different kinds of people
usually run a general practice. However narrowing the field presents better
opportunities, specialization and branding.
You need to join a professional association in your
country. Other things to do are secure an office, get clients and register the
enterprise. Here are a few tips on how to start a private counseling practice.
How
to Start a Private Counseling Practice
Choose
a Niche
You should choose a niche or focus on general practice.
Some sectors of counseling are teen, hardened criminals, marriage and drug
addicts. Choosing a sector allows better understanding of your client’s
peculiar needs.
Deepen
your Knowledge
To increase knowledge try internship programs, get a
mentor or read lots of publications. There are many resources such as books,
e-books, conferences and seminars.
Write
a Counseling Practice Business Plan
Hire a professional to write a counsel practice business
plan. If you have a feasibility study and survey include data on competitors,
target demography and best location.
Lease
an Office Space
Lease a visible office space in a commercial area. Make
sure the office is tastefully furnished to convey a relaxing atmosphere for
your clients.
Use lots of neutral colors and soft hues like green and
cream colors. You could operate from home in a dedicated space.
An office space requires a reception area and
consultation room. Furnish the space with mahogany wood, landscape paintings
and office equipment.
Some therapists practice over the phone, live-feeds or a
subleased office space. Subletting is cost effective however you work under
strict time constrains.
Others sublet at hourly rates only during therapy
seasons. You can lease on an hourly, weekly or monthly rate.
Register
the Business
To operate you need a business license and permit. Register
a business name and get liability insurance. Private practice is usually one man businesses
so make it a sole proprietorships enterprise.
Staff
Employ a receptionist, secretary and administrative
staff. However, most small practices operate on their own with only a
receptionist. This is cost effective and increases your profit margin.
Charges
Private practitioners hardly reveal how much they charge.
However an average season could cost $100-$150 per season.
While some seasoned veterans charge $200 per hour. Busy
therapists see an average of 15 -30 clients per week.
Those that choose to sublet pay about $100 a month for
the space. Many marriage counselors and general practitioners prefer collecting
cash pay.
Do the
Paper Work
There are a few important forms and legal requirements. Make
sure you get help from a qualified lawyer and your association.
You need a dedicate phone number, internet connectivity
and a website. You need a management system to organize your financials and
therapy notes.
Office
Equipment
Your basic office equipments are a phone, computer, modem
and printer. You need a reception area intercom and comfortable chairs.
Build a Practice Website
Get a web developer to build the website. You could offer
phone consultation and offline seasons.
Purchase a good domain name and host plan. To attract
traffic use social media, classified websites and regular blog posts.
Marketing
Considerations
Although newspaper advertisement could bring in a few
clients use referrals form MDs and colleagues. You can list your practice in
directories and sites related to your business.
Conclusion
To succeed as a counselor you need to think like an
entrepreneur. Find a good location,
legalize your papers and use a dedicate phone number. Other requirements are
build a website, set your charges and print business cards.
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