Dr. Marie Fang offers tips to make the process of starting private practice simple and accessible. Access information I've learned along the way. Learn to start your business, build your brand, market yourself, and maintain your practice with these quick weekly tools.
FREE Guide: Start a Private Practice in Counseling: tinyurl.com/y9ek9en8
I saw a therapist who had really no structure at all. After 4 months, she said that we were going over in time every session, and she had other patients to see. I was shocked. I had thought the sessions were 55 min when in reality they were 45 mins with her. My therapy sessions 1 year before with a different therapist were a full hour. I was blown away in a bad way that this therapist did not let me know sooner the length of the sessions. I was embarrassed and immediately was trying to figure out how I was going to make up (give back the time). I went to look at my initial paperwork that I had signed and realized one of the information sheets did explain it sessions were 45 mins so it was my mistake. The paperwork included stuff like HIPPA so I just signed and didn't read. However, I still can't understand that she never clarified things. She did eventually apologize genuinely when she found out how upset I was. However, I realized that I always had this feeling she wasn't going to be honest and upfront with issues since she took 4 months to bring things up. My feedback to therapists is to take the first couple minutes of a session if you need to clarify anything. Before my therapist finally brought things up, I had a feeling things were off, but I pushed those feelings down. Looking back, I am pretty sure this therapist may have been feeling some resentment towards me. The comment that she had other patients to get to, and that were always going over in time, made me feel that she was upset. I tried to stick it out with more therapy with her, hoping things would get on track, but soon after I ended therapy. The therapeutic relationship felt damaged to me, and it sad and upsets me that it was over such a small thing that I feel could have been easily clarified. Those first few mins of sessions would have been an easy time to set things on track early on. I try to look at the few good things I got out of the therapy, but I do have a feeling much of the therapy was a waste. I wish in a way I had not shared some of the deep things with her that I did.
Totally decided the same thing - Specialize after the fact. The small Masters program I'm in now is really focused on people doing their continuing ed after graduation. It is very chill. MCFT through CACREP.
Hey Dr Fang! Longtime subscriber and MA Counseling student here. Thanks for your content. Do you have any thoughts on CACREP PhD’s in Counseling Education and Supervision? I’ve heard CACREP is wanting doctors from these programs specifically to teach in their programs. Like you, I want to mainly teach and provide therapy. This degree seems fit for that. Any thoughts?
Thanks for the great information! I would love to interview with you! I built a 7-figure practice in less than 2 years, and have over 6 figures in profit. I specialize in marketing as well to keep the referrals streams coming in despite the market being very saturated. I do consult work and would love to share ideas and tips for therapists!
We have a very non-traditional student base here in Alaska and part-time is very common. That said, the college’s messaging is still “faster Saves you money” but as an insider to the system I feel like that is motivated by attrition rate statistics.
LCSW Illinois checking in, I know over a handful of people recently at the school I did my BSW and MSW at and things have changed so much since I graduated 2016 and… I’m not conviencdd it’s for the better. The part time stuff or full time feels rushed. They’re offering all of these like very short turnaround times of getting classes done and getting them done in like a month or two and allegedly you’re gonna do the whole class and that amount of time which does happen but according to the people that I talk to you, there’s like nothing happening in the classes or it’s not that hard. There’s a lot of new grads coming out just a disaster and not prepared for the field, but also assuming that they can just walk into a private practice get paid what people have been a clinical when they’re only pulmonary licensed type cases and not be ready for the type of cases they’re gonna be given. We have a lot of group practices in the Chicago area that conglomerates that taken a ton of clinicians who used to be 1099, but our state changed that it has to be a W-2 if you’re now LPC and the amount of practices that just poach new grads because they can skim off the top of their profit or say they’re offering reduced fees to get more clients on the door, but do not go through the effort of getting these people trained is crazy. I would know, I worked for one starting in grad school as a front desk and then did practice therapy there
Wow. LCSW/MSW here. Before getting my degree, every doctorate graduate student said "just get your Master's." My mentor said the same. And he is a PhD. For the same reasons.
She is so right! I have enhanced my trainings with CAMFT trainings and other resources that I would not have been able to get through Grad school only such as EMDR and Greif specialist, and Gottman couples training. There are so many great trainings out there that are supplemental to Grad school, faster and A LOT LESS EXPENSIVE!
CACREP is bullshit. They’ve taken over the entire field of psychology. The mental health field is desperate for good practitioners but we can’t fill these roles because the labyrinthine requirements that this accrediting institution has instituted (all financially driven) make it mind bogglingly impossible to achieve! We now have licensing standards that are in many cases more restrictive than those required for medical doctors to begin practicing! We are missing out on some very gifted and qualified folks with a great deal of wisdom and knowledge to share.
I worked in behavioral health as a behavior coach/case manager full-time through most of my grad program, and I think that was one of my best decisions. It allowed me to gain a lot of confidence in helping people with their mental health (where I just saw becoming a therapist as gaining more skills and allowing me to pivot my role), I gained familiarity with the systems in-place that impact people seeking treatment, and I got to apply what I was learning directly to the people I was already working with (not like doing therapy on them, but more like applying theoretical concepts and lenses). Doing this also really assured me that becoming a therapist was something that I wanted and would be good at!
Im going for my PhD similar to you I want more options when im out of school. Also the reason is financial. I want to be able to make the highest salary I can. I don’t want to have any barriers stopping me help provide for my family.
I'm not sure how common part time is, but my school offers 3 tracks-accelerated in 18 months, standard in 2 yrs, 3 months, and part time in 3 years. The part time definitely seems the least popular based on my observations, but I never felt discouraged from doing it. The other school I applied to was very flexible and you could take a whole bunch of classes at a time or do it very slowly if you wanted.
Registered nurse here, I hope you got checked out. I'm assuming you did because you know you had a concussion. Thank you for this. I am doing a slow route to a master's in counseling. Providing therapy is a lifelong dream. Many people are doing the "Well don't you want to do_____?" Testing, research, you name it. People also suggested psychiatric APRN, "because the money is better" (in the short term) "and they can do therapy too." No, I want my training in therapy, not prescribing. I value the work done in those other roles, but I feel fortunate to be able to follow a passion- a luxury many people don't get.
Best advice I got from a PsyD psychologist (and from a Master's level therapist) was: do the degree that gets you working with clients fastest unless you *know* you want to go into research. So Masters degree it is for me.
For anybody in a similar place, going to grad school with a social work degree (typically 2 years after college, or one year accelerated program) you can become a LCSW and be able to practice therapy
This is SO helpful - and echoes things I’ve heard from a friend of mine who has a private practice. She went to school at night when we worked together in our 20s instead of going to school full time. The training tip is so so helpful
I was a client and the therapist I saw was unprofessional and seemed inexperienced compared to regular therapists I’ve seen. I did enjoy the group sessions, they were kinda fun. I would not recommend betterhelp for therapy
I wish I had focused on different research in grad school. I had no idea what specialty I was going to end up in. I focused a lot on kids and school based stuff because I thought I was going to do school adjustment counseling. I ended up specializing in autism and adhd and I researched neither in grad school. Also worked with kids at first but couldn’t handle all of the collaborative care so switched to adults only. I did focus on BPD even in undergrad and specialized in that too. I don’t regret much… just thinking I could handle being a therapist. Because I got very chronically ill trying, even when I cut my hours. Haven’t worked in a year and have no clue what to do now. I wish someone told me back in my internship that the burnout I felt was because I was autistic and can’t be working 1:1 with humans doing verbal speech, lights and noise.. oh well. I’m proud of the career I had regardless of how it ended up, and my grad program was rly great too. Sorry about your concussion that sounds scary. Hope you get some rest.
Firstly I commend you for pushing through with such a fresh TBI! As someone who had one during the middle of my behavioral health training, so I understand exactly what you mean.. Other than that great video and thanks for the perspective!
I hear you on wishing that you chose a part-time option. I am currently a full-time masters student and am in the process of completing my internship hours at a community agency- it is overwhelming. At the same time, I have a good internship site, supervisor, and professors at school. Many of the classes are online which helps somewhat. With the flexibility in the school program, I am able to spread out my internship over three semesters (instead of 2) which allows for more time for school work. Whew!
Thank you for this video it helps a lot to not feel bad for charging an amount that I am needing to live. I was wondering when you would be releasing a video on the topic of how to fill up your caseload. As someone who is recently licensed and starting out in private practice, it's getting harder and harder to stay motivated to continue on this route..
I am so sorry about your concussion! I hope you feel better very quickly!! I went to grad school probably just a little while before you (guessing based on your 20 year comment). I knew I wanted to do therapy, but wasn't exactly sure what path I wanted to take. I ended up getting out the phone book (Yes, I'm dating myself here) and just randomly started calling different therapists in my area... All specializations, psychologists, social workers, MFTs, etc. Almost 100% of them told me to go with the social work degree because I could still receive the clinical training and provide therapy, but it would give me far more job opportunities and settings to choose from. I ended up choosing the clinical social work route and found the advice to be correct. I've always found it interesting that even the psychologists I called said that, so apparently you're not alone in your thinking Marie. I do sometimes wonder if I would have enjoyed the testing piece with a psychology degree though.
i read on their ads they pay up to 100 an hour for seasoned therapists (of which i am). i was offered 70. i went through the on boarding etc only to be told that in their guide, it was only 70. not cool. i wasted 2.5 hours of my time but at least i don't have to feel resentful for working hard for very little. i have value. and so do you.
Yes!! Virtual therapy completely wears me out too. Also our energy wavers depending on where we are in our cycle. I schedule more breaks and less clients during days 20-26 of my cycle. It helps! I also talk with clients about content vs process, and I find most understand and are able to be redirected.
Content would refer to the details or stories or specific examples in clients’ lives. This is where Marie was talking about people get stuck on sharing the details over and over. Process refers to the underlying patterns, themes, the big things we are trying to work on with clients. 😊
You can keep digging at Freud’s sinister past till your breath expires. He was a master at analysing the vast complex mind of the human species that which could only be achieved by analysing your own inner virtues and vices, however cross-wired. After all, we fear most in others by what we ourselves are capable of! If your motive is to reveal Freud to be a hypocrite and chameleon, then you are practicing the same fundamental flaws that is inherently the core of the human species. No other mammal is equipped to practice this vile, abhorrent menace. And it was not an anomaly that Freud’s era was dominated by the male gender and so more to fuel your fire. We are all chameleons and hypocrites! Is it an anomaly for the current era to attack all the levels of our wonderful societal fabric? And you will certainly attract the many meek followers. So, you have a whole life ahead of you. Make it good….., don’t denigrate people particularly the ones you do not know as you look upon yourself in the mirror and you too will be judged by the imperfect path you will undoubtedly leave. Pick an image and take it to the grave. Following fashions are the signs of a chameleon and hypocrisy follows!
lol my way of coping with boredom has been to learn new modalities. EMDR trained, brainspotting trained and working towards cert, and now heading into sex therapy training.
Your content is amazing. So thought provoking and informative. You are AWESOME. Thank you thank you for the great content and please do keep it up. You've (obviously and easily) earned yourself a subscriber.
