Like most of us I didn't start start out in private practice, I worked part time in treatment programs and hospitals. I started my private practice with a friend, we rented office space when neither of us had any clients but like in the movie "Field of Dreams", we believed if you build it they will come. What we didn't consider was that we would have to do a bit of marketing to let everyone know we were ready.

When I was first licensed in 1986 I started taking marketing classes and trying to learn all the ways of developing a practice that wouldn't require me to do much networking, It was in 1995 that I started doing marketing workshops. I started my search for alternate practice development so by nature I am a shy person and large groups overwhelmed me. Yet working in the recovery field for so many years and having to give lectures to large groups it helped me alot with large groups. Through these years I have tried various approaches to marketing and recognize how these approaches have changed with the times. In the beginning it was giving free talks at the Library and now its the web, social media, networking and yes, still many of the old tried and true ways, the main point is using as many approaches as possible.

At that time the reimbursement rate was $60.00 an hour for a Master's level person for most contracts. When Managed Health Network (MHN) lowered their rate from $60 to $50, I started to wonder if it was worth it. I had been on the panels for about 10 years and not once was given a cost of living raise or any raise at all. I called all the panels I was on and requested a raise based on length of service and was denied by all of them. I spent a long time considering the pros and cons and speaking with colleagues and friends about the risk of leaving the panels. The reimbursement rate was slightly more than half of my full fee and any client that came to me and had that insurance I would have to accept the contracted rate, even if they wanted to pay my full fee. It was a hard decision but I prepared my clients for my withdrawal from all the panels and began the process of sending out letters of resignation. It was the best decision I made and I lost only one client in the process. I had always realized that marketing was as much a part of my business as seeing clients but that I had to step up the process and to think more of my work as a business. I started to streamline my practice, invest in practice management software and rethink my networking. Its been a long road of learning, at times frustrating and other times amazing. What I learned is you can't do it alone, takes a lot of support and help. I have colleagues that might go with me to a networking meeting. I have people who can proofread materials for me. I am always asking for support and assistance and realize it has become a collaborative effort.