This article is offered as part of Lesson #1 in the Private Client Mini Course.
To get full access to the FREE course, click here to sign up.
To get full access to the FREE course, click here to sign up.
Today, most people want more control over their jobs and their lives.
If you're anything like me, you absolutely love your chosen profession - and love helping your clients - but wish that your job allowed for:
As clinicians and "helping people," we tend to put others first, often at the expense of helping ourselves.
We love what we do but wish that we were rewarded for it in more measurable ways (i.e. more than personal satisfaction.)
If you're anything like me, you absolutely love your chosen profession - and love helping your clients - but wish that your job allowed for:
- a more flexible schedule
- more autonomy
- a higher salary
- a greater appreciation of your expertise and
- the ability to treat clients the way you feel is best
As clinicians and "helping people," we tend to put others first, often at the expense of helping ourselves.
We love what we do but wish that we were rewarded for it in more measurable ways (i.e. more than personal satisfaction.)
Let me share an interesting personal story…
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About a year after completing my clinical fellowship, I got a bit restless at my job.
I had my dream job! I worked at one of the top rehabilitation hospitals in the country with incredibly interesting patients with complex needs - but for some reason, I was unhappy. Working in the outpatient department, I was keenly aware of insurance restrictions that my patients faced. Some people got approved for significantly fewer sessions than the severity of their diagnosis would warrant. I worked long hours, often pulling 12 hour days (and only getting paid for 8 of those hours) and never feeling caught up. And because of the earned time system, I got minimal vacation time. (Oh - and it turns out that working for a big name hospital doesn't mean big pay!) |
And then I noticed something...
Two of my colleagues were working part-time with me - and part-time in their own, small private practices.
I had NO CLUE that this was an option!
Neither colleague had clinic space; all of their visits were home visits. They were both private pay only and carefully chose which types of clients to treat according to their clinical expertise / interests.
Needless to say, I was intrigued... and a bit jealous.
Both were doing the type of therapy they loved - getting paid very well for it - and still had the consistent income and benefits from working their "regular jobs."
Once they knew that I was interested in starting my own speech therapy private practice "on the side," they answered my questions and helped mentor me.
I had NO CLUE that this was an option!
Neither colleague had clinic space; all of their visits were home visits. They were both private pay only and carefully chose which types of clients to treat according to their clinical expertise / interests.
Needless to say, I was intrigued... and a bit jealous.
Both were doing the type of therapy they loved - getting paid very well for it - and still had the consistent income and benefits from working their "regular jobs."
Once they knew that I was interested in starting my own speech therapy private practice "on the side," they answered my questions and helped mentor me.
Now here's the best part:
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Within 6 months of having a "budding interest" in treating private clients, I was consistently treating 2-3 sessions per week and starting to build a reputation in the community.
I kept pinching myself. As my number of referrals grew, I ran out of available slots in the early evenings and on weekends. I was lucky to have the ability to flex my schedule and drop down to 32 hours a week. With three afternoons "off," I was able to treat 6-8 private therapy sessions per week. My job and personal satisfaction skyrocketed (and my bank account was feeling the love too.) But what I'm most proud of is this:
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I had a dream and I went for it.
I took action.
I became my own boss (for a few hours a week) and was proud of myself for taking my career into my own hands and providing the therapy that I wanted to - on my own terms.
I took action.
I became my own boss (for a few hours a week) and was proud of myself for taking my career into my own hands and providing the therapy that I wanted to - on my own terms.
Taking Control Wasn't Easy - But It Made All of the Difference
Some clinicians take their frustrations and desires into their own hands and stay in their profession and continue to treat clients but on their own terms.
I was (and still am) one of these clinicians.
Rather than passively wait for small raises (if you're lucky to get one at all) or provide therapy that wasn't as frequent or effective as I knew my patients needed, I started treating my own clients "on the side" of my regular job.
This had an immediate positive impact on my overall life satisfaction, professional control over how I treated my clients and also a significant bump in my earnings. A win-win-win situation.
I was (and still am) one of these clinicians.
Rather than passively wait for small raises (if you're lucky to get one at all) or provide therapy that wasn't as frequent or effective as I knew my patients needed, I started treating my own clients "on the side" of my regular job.
This had an immediate positive impact on my overall life satisfaction, professional control over how I treated my clients and also a significant bump in my earnings. A win-win-win situation.
#1: How Treating Private Clients Allows You to Set Your Own Schedule
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One of the reasons why people decide to pursue careers in speech-language pathology, occupational therapy and physical therapy is for "flexibility."
Then you get into the field and realize that most jobs aren't quite as flexible as you had hoped. If you decide to treat private clients, you can treat clients after work or on weekends - or reduce your hours at your "regular job" to allow for more private client time. If you've been out of the field for a while to raise kids - or are planning to retire soon - treating privately can fit easily into your schedule around other responsibilities - which is why many people in these situations opt for this approach. |
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#2: How Treating Private Clients Allows You to Provide High Quality Treatment
There's nothing more frustrating than being unable to provide the type or frequency of treatment that your clients would most benefit from.
I have colleagues who work in public schools who have kids with articulation issues or fluency disorders that they aren't allowed to treat at all - or such a minimal amount that no progress is made and the kids fall farther and farther behind. And the clinician feels awful about it; a lose-lose situation.
I remember having patients in my rehabilitation hospital who were only allotted a few sessions, even though they were severely aphasic or cognitively impaired.
I have colleagues who work in public schools who have kids with articulation issues or fluency disorders that they aren't allowed to treat at all - or such a minimal amount that no progress is made and the kids fall farther and farther behind. And the clinician feels awful about it; a lose-lose situation.
I remember having patients in my rehabilitation hospital who were only allotted a few sessions, even though they were severely aphasic or cognitively impaired.
When you work with private pay clients, you have more flexibility over their plan of care.
For example:
For example:
- You can work with private clients multiple times per week
- You can see private clients where it's convenient for you both (ex. clients home, telepractice)
- You develop a closer relationship with both the client and their family members
#3: How Treating Private Clients Allows You to Control Your Income
One of the most frustrating things about being employed by schools, hospitals, early intervention or other people's private practices is the lack of control over your financial future.
If your only way to increase your income is based on minimal / occasional raises or to becoming a manager, your options are quite limited.
When I started treating private clients, within a few months I was able to double my income by treating a few extra hours a week. (That's both exciting... and a bit sad about the state of affairs.)
For a young SLP with student loans and hopes for owning a home and having a dream wedding someday, that extra income came much quicker than waiting around for raises from my employer.
A wise friend taught me about the importance of diversifying your income. Having your own private practice - even a small one - makes you far less dependent on any one income stream. This is important for everyone - but especially those of us with families.
If your only way to increase your income is based on minimal / occasional raises or to becoming a manager, your options are quite limited.
When I started treating private clients, within a few months I was able to double my income by treating a few extra hours a week. (That's both exciting... and a bit sad about the state of affairs.)
For a young SLP with student loans and hopes for owning a home and having a dream wedding someday, that extra income came much quicker than waiting around for raises from my employer.
A wise friend taught me about the importance of diversifying your income. Having your own private practice - even a small one - makes you far less dependent on any one income stream. This is important for everyone - but especially those of us with families.
Pin me!
I'm still amazed...
Stick I'm coming up on my 10th anniversary in private practice.
My private practice is the reason why I was able to finally get control over my professional, personal and financial future by finally getting "more" out of the profession I love.
I love being a speech-language pathologist more now than ever. Mostly, I love being able to help more people - on my own terms.
If this option sounds interesting to you... Stick with me.
That’s why I’m proud to announce a new series that I’ll be running on The Independent Clinician.
(This is where you’ll get the insanely practical tips on how to start working with private clients right now).
Soon, you too can have more control over your future, increase your work / life balance, have the ability to work from home and increase your financial freedom - and I'll show you how.
All-in-all, by the end of this series, I hope to empower thousands of clinicians to begin building a private practice "on the side" that helps them do what they want to do… no matter what it is.
And if you LOVE what this series stands for, take a second and share this with a friend. I'm trying to reach tens of thousands of SLPs, OTs and PTs, and with your help, we can do it!
Ask Yourself this Question:
The big question is how do you build a private practice that works for—not against—you in YOUR QUEST to have more time with your kids, earn enough income to take extra vacations, become the "go to" specialist in your area or finally make your long term vision a reality?
My private practice is the reason why I was able to finally get control over my professional, personal and financial future by finally getting "more" out of the profession I love.
I love being a speech-language pathologist more now than ever. Mostly, I love being able to help more people - on my own terms.
If this option sounds interesting to you... Stick with me.
That’s why I’m proud to announce a new series that I’ll be running on The Independent Clinician.
(This is where you’ll get the insanely practical tips on how to start working with private clients right now).
- I’m going to take you behind the scenes of how I do what I do.
- I’m going to bust common private practice myths wide open.
- I’m going to reveal some specific strategies YOU can use to finally start YOUR private practice today.
- And much more.
Soon, you too can have more control over your future, increase your work / life balance, have the ability to work from home and increase your financial freedom - and I'll show you how.
All-in-all, by the end of this series, I hope to empower thousands of clinicians to begin building a private practice "on the side" that helps them do what they want to do… no matter what it is.
And if you LOVE what this series stands for, take a second and share this with a friend. I'm trying to reach tens of thousands of SLPs, OTs and PTs, and with your help, we can do it!
Ask Yourself this Question:
The big question is how do you build a private practice that works for—not against—you in YOUR QUEST to have more time with your kids, earn enough income to take extra vacations, become the "go to" specialist in your area or finally make your long term vision a reality?
In the meantime, I want you to LEAVE A COMMENT and answer this ONE simple question:
Leave a Comment:
What has led you to consider treating private clients?
Examples:
- Not enough clinical flexibility at current job
- Too much red tape in public school system
Also, know this:
I’m still putting this content together right now. So, if you’ve got any specific questions about private practice, leave a comment asking your question, and I may be able to work it into this series.
I’m still putting this content together right now. So, if you’ve got any specific questions about private practice, leave a comment asking your question, and I may be able to work it into this series.
This article is offered as part of Lesson #1 in the Private Client Mini Course.
To get full access to the FREE course, click here to sign up.
To get full access to the FREE course, click here to sign up.
