As you probably know, most of my coaching and consulting is done over the phone. Yet, some people really love to have some concentrated time face-to-face with me to really get into the nuts of bolts of building their practice.

To that end, I am offering a few in-person consulting sessions as I travel. I will be offering face-to-face consulting:

In Long Beach, CA on October 12, 13 & 15
In Houston, TX on October 25 & 28
In Oakland, CA on November 1 & 3

We have openings for 90-minute and 3 hour face-to-face coaching sessions. For more information about how we could spend some together working on your practice building strategies, please send a blank email to: consulting@beawealthytherapist.org

I hope we can meet face to face!

Casey

People often say to me “Casey, I want what you built - a practice full of cash-paying clients with no managed care. How did you do it?”

I’d love it share! You are invited to a no-charge teleseminar where I will share with you the exact techniques I used - as a strong introvert - to let go of managed care and attract more fee-for-service clients. These will be the strategies that I present in-person and in much more detail at our power-packed intensive 2-day workshop in Houston, Texas on October 26 & 27th.

Interested in the freebie 60-minute workshop preview teleseminar?

Call will be on Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at:

2 p.m. Pacific
3 p.m. Mountain
4 p.m. Central
5 p.m. Eastern

Get your complimentary seat for this teleseminar by visiting:
http://www.BeAWealthyTherapist.com/preview1.html

Hope “hear” you on the call!

Casey

Note: This is Chapter 4 of my new book: “Be a Wealthy Therapist: Finally, you can make a living while making a difference” due out in just a few weeks. Hope you enjoy it!

In one of my weekend workshops, Larry sat low in his chair at the back of the room. While others shared their desire to grow their practice, Larry told the group, “I am only here for the continuing education units.”

I asked the workshop participants, “What do you think keeps therapists making less than other health care professionals?”

Various important ideas were discussed. Jane said, “I believe we have done this to ourselves - by continuing to accept lower fees than our medical and legal counterparts, we perpetuate the idea that our work is not as valuable.” That got some great discussion going.

Then I asked, “How do you feel about marketing your practice?” People groaned and shifted in their chairs. Then the follow up: “And how do you feel about making a good living from your practice?”

More groaning. People shared their discomfort:

“I can’t stand the idea of marketing myself.”

“Marketing is unprofessional.”

“Marketing is just setting yourself up for more rejection.”

“I tried marketing and I didn’t get any new clients.”

These are very common concerns. After working with thousands of therapists I’ve discovered two simple, yet surprisingly strong beliefs that can interfere with the private practitioner’s desire for a financially successful practice. Most therapists seem to believe them to varying degrees. Here they are:

1) Money is bad.
2) Marketing is bad.

It’s time to address those beliefs - and move past them.

1) Money is bad.

Money is not inherently bad. Yes, some people do bad things with money or in their attempts to get more money, but not everyone. Many people do very good things with money. Mother Teresa raised money all over the world for her causes.

Isn’t it time to change how we think about money? Who does it serve to remain poor? My friend Chellie Campbell, author of The Wealthy Spirit and From Zero to Zillionaire says, “You can’t help the poor and starving if you’re the poor and starving.” Let’s put the oxygen mask on our face before we try and help others.

Think of money like a fine wine. Many can enjoy it. Some people will abuse it. But it’s not the wine itself that’s bad.

2) Marketing is bad.

If you have watched any daytime TV lately and seen all those cheesy commercials for personal injury attorneys, you may think so. But again, it’s like the wine.

If you do not market your practice, fewer people will know you’re there to help them. If you want to help more people you need to let more people know how to find you. Marketing is not some slick attempt to make money. Marketing is simply the way to let more people know you’re there to help, and it can be done with honor.

I don’t expect that these simple thoughts will “do it” for you. Don’t worry. We will be tackling them in much more detail in the next two sections.

When I handed Larry his CEU certificate at the end of the workshop, he smiled and said: “Before this weekend, I didn’t really think I could have a practice with fee-for-service clients without sacrificing my soul. I did not want to be a rich, arrogant clinician who makes decisions that are in my interest, but not in my client’s best interest. But I get it now. I can increase my income and I owe that to my family. And I can do it in an honorable way that serves my family, the client and my community.”

Go, Larry!

Be true to yourself. It takes courage to look at what limiting beliefs you may have about your practice. Consider sharing this with a trusted confidant. Let them challenge you. You will become clearer on what is true for you.

Money and Marketing are not bad words. But we have been brainwashed into thinking they are. Take back your power now. You can ethically market your practice and make an honest living in ways that serve everyone.

Coaching questions:

1) On a scale of 1 - 10 (with 1 being ‘very true’ and 10 being ‘very false’) how true for you is the statement - “Money is bad”?

2) Rate your comfort with the idea of marketing your practice on a scale of 1 - 10 (with 1 being ‘very uncomfortable’ and 10 being ‘very comfortable’).

3) Now, consider your commitment to your practice. How committed are you to building your practice?

4) What beliefs do you have that might get in the way of building the practice you really want?

Happy Practice Building!

Casey

To read more blog posts, visit our blog home page here.

I am returning to my roots in Houston Texas for our two-day power-packed workshop (with 14 CEUs.)

Raised in Houston, I am excited to bring Bob and my friend Maria to join some success-minded private practitioners on October 26 & 27th in Houston.

Like last year, I plan to stuff myself with BBQ and great Mexican food.

Want to hear what we are covering? You can view my two minute video at:
http://www.BeAWealthyTherapist.com/Workshop/

I bet they didn’t teach you this in grad school…

This 14-hour workshop is jammed packed full of tips, strategies and a detailed action plan
guaranteed to get you excited about building your practice.

On Day 1 We Will Cover:

The 4 Simple Rules for Creating the Ultimate Private Practice
Money 101
What is it, who gets it and do you want more of it?
How to handle the intake call to your best advantage.
Marketing 101
What influences “buying” behavior?
What can you do to be more attractive to prospective clients?
What are you selling and to whom?
All businesses have a target market. We will help you figure out yours.
Your Marketing Personality Type
Are you an Introvert, Extrovert, Techno Lover or Creative Marketing Type? Based on your Marketing Personality Type, you can select the activities that work best for you.
The 17 Marketing Activities You Can Use to Build Your Practice
The Law of Attraction applied to Building a Private Practice

On Day 2 We Will Create:

Your Marketing Plan Blueprint - including
Your ideal client profile
Your tag line
Your Marketing Activity Plan including your Keep In Touch Marketing Activities

You will also learn:
How to Know if Your Marketing is Working
How to Maintain Marketing Focus and Motivation in order to stay happily on track.
How to create your Marketing Self Care Plan
You will leave with your personal Marketing Plan Blueprint complete.
Each day there will opportunities for attendees to have some “Hot Seat Laser Coaching” - quick coaching on your marketing plan with the group.
And I will be there to support and coach and nudge you and the other participants for the whole, entire day! Get your questions answered on the spot as you develop your plan.

And After The Workshop:

Once a month for 3 months after the workshop, I will hold a teleclass at no additional charge just for the attendees. We call this your “Stick To It Program.” I offer these calls to make sure you are on target with your marketing and to answer your questions after the workshop. These 60 minute calls will be the fist Monday of every month at 6 p.m. Central time.

There is a $75 discount for the first 20 registered. (We have 10 registered so far so you may want to get in quick if you are going to get your discount.)
Visit http://www.BeAWealthyTherapist.com/Workshop/ for more details.

Hope to see you there!
Casey